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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that bang snaps/fun snaps are not suitable for a 6 year old?

26 replies

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 21/04/2015 09:47

Although I don't massively approve of him lavishing her with plastic tat / sweets / kids makeup / lack of disciplining I turn a blind eye as understand his desire to spoil/please her when he sees her and feel that the impact (as it stands at the moment) is minimal.

I opened DD's backpack yesterday which she takes to her dads every other weekend when she stays with him and do und a small box of those bang snaps - you know the little twists of paper filled with a small amount of chemical that bang when you throw them on the floor.

Firstly they have a big "not to be used or sold to under 16's" sign on the box, assuming due to them basically being a small firework! And secondly I absolutely hate the things, they make me jump a mile when someone throws one anywhere near me.

Am I being unreasonable to confiscate them and tell XH not to buy them for her again?

OP posts:
Original poster
CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 21/04/2015 09:50

do und = found!

OP posts:
reallybadidea · 21/04/2015 10:00

I think you're overreacting. They're no different from Christmas crackers or party poppers really.

Original poster
CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 21/04/2015 10:02

I wouldn't give a bag of them to a child of 6 either!

OP posts:
reallybadidea · 21/04/2015 10:03

You don't let a six year old snap a cracker at Christmas?!

Oswin · 21/04/2015 10:09

Oh I used to love them. The local corner shop used to sell these red strips of paper with these little spots on, you would scratch the spot with a stone and it would bang.

DramaQueenofHighCs · 21/04/2015 10:10

My 6 yr old has them (thanks the first time to grandparents/Santa in a 'mystery parcel' that was bought with 'contents unknown') and LOVES them. They are kept in a safe place and he only uses them with heavy supervision. I think your DD would be fine with them, however YANBU to confiscate them and express your desire for her not to have them if you yourself are uncomfortable with her having them as they are potentially dangerous (can cause burns) so I can see both arguments.

Hoppinggreen · 21/04/2015 10:17

My 6 year old went to a party at a Playgym not long ago and he said he was going to give his big sister some of the " sweets" out of his party bag. Dd brought them to me and said " have you seen these?" It was a box of these bang snap things that did actually look a bit like sweets and had not for under 16's printed on the box!!! I contacted the Playgym but they didn't seem to think it was a big deal.
We had them and I don't think they are particularly dangerous but they should not look like sweets and should not be given to 6 year lads in their party bags.

reallybadidea · 21/04/2015 10:21

I like to throw a few up in the air at a time and hit them with a tennis racquet

TwinkieTwinkle · 21/04/2015 10:22

My son gets a ton of these at Christmas (10 boxes for a pound on amazon!), been getting them for him since he was five. No problems whatsoever.

Original poster
CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 21/04/2015 10:24

Of course I'd let dd have a cracker at Xmas, reallybadidea but there is a difference between a single cracker under supervision and a box of bang snaps.

OP posts:
sparechange · 21/04/2015 10:25

Oswin
Those were for cap guns! My brothers had the plastic guns that you loaded the strips into, but I just used to take the paper and make them pop!

squoosh · 21/04/2015 10:25

I used to love those! Haven't seen them in years.

I don't see the big deal really, they're just noise, there's no actual spark.

squoosh · 21/04/2015 10:27

there is a difference between a single cracker under supervision and a box of bang snaps.

'single cracker under supervision' Grin

Safety goggles and flame proof gloves first darling.

reallybadidea · 21/04/2015 10:30

Right, so supervise her playing with them then. Problem solved.

Original poster
CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 21/04/2015 10:32

it sounded more pfb than I meant it to Squoosh - believe you me, DD is by no means wrapped up in cotton wool.

OP posts:
sparechange · 21/04/2015 10:32

Squoosh Grin

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 21/04/2015 10:33

Way overprotective! DS is 6 and loves them. They aren't dangerous. He was introduced to them by my brothers and my dad (60 something) buying them at a music event and flinging them at each other's feet. Hilarious. What harm do you think can come of them?

BarbarianMum · 21/04/2015 10:34

I used to love those. If you empty out all the power into a new twist of tissue paper very carefully you can make one big bang. Educational Smile

squoosh · 21/04/2015 10:35

Do they still sell stinkbombs? This thread has started me thinking about all that joke shop stuff I used to love buying.

TwinkieTwinkle · 21/04/2015 10:41

up! Stink bombs, itching powder, joke sweets are all on amazon really cheap. My family probably hate me at Christmas, I buy them all as stocking fillers for DS and they are used constantly over the next few days... Grin

HiImBarryScott · 21/04/2015 10:43

I put a pack of these in each of the party bags for my 6 year olds birthday last week. And my 3 year old had a pack too.

Didn't think to be remotely concerned actually! Wonder if the other parents thought I was a bit reckless now...?

squoosh · 21/04/2015 10:44

The one I hated was the fake chewing gum pack. It would snap back on your finger when you tried to take a piece.

Agony.

loveareadingthanks · 21/04/2015 11:15

Sorry, OP, YABU. You don't like the noise, that's what's putting you off them. They aren't dangerous (find a single case of a child injured from a snap?) and are a lot of fun for most people. Fair enough to say don't use them near you as you don't like bangs.

The under 16 warning is a legal requirement because of the minute amount of powder, but they aren't anything like real fireworks. It's a bit like the 'contains egg' allergy warning I found on my egg box last night. Nanny state.

tbtc · 21/04/2015 11:21

OP FWIW, I don't like them either and would not let my 6 yo have them.

I guess if there's a few kids playing in a large open space and no one else is bothered then that's one thing, but I really don't like seeing kids throw them around when there are other people about. They just seem to scare people!

Wantsunshine · 21/04/2015 11:22

Oh I used to love these. My dd has played with them since about 5. At school I remember the bid thing was to throw some down someones jumper and smack them on the back. Never head of an injury ??