To worry about the safety of baby headbands?

[CatThiefKeith]

A few women in my friendship group and/or with children in dd's class have had baby daughters recently, and have all been putting flowers and bows on their babies heads. They have all been bought from a local seller on FB I believe.

AIBU to worry that:

1. They may not conform to safety standards and therefore pose a choking risk and

1. It will be 30 degrees here by Monday, the poor little mites might overheat.

Headbands are similar too, but slightly larger than the ones shown.

What's a 'standard mumsnet reply' then?

My main worry about them is that they are absolutely disgusting.

But also they do look uncomfortable, could slip down & strangle the baby. I wouldn't risk anything like that getting round a baby's neck, not even a magical amber necklace!

Some parents put "fashion" (using the term loosely obvs) above comfort & common sense.

Discussions like these are why our parents and grandparents roll their eyes at this generation.

How on earth did the millions of women before us cope without the health and safety rating of a hairband? I mean, never mind the fact that babies used to sleep in caves. Thank God we appreciate that a flowery hairband can cause babies to have deformed faces (I mean seriously, I think that would have to be a pretty tight hairband/straight jacket). How do people that think like this get through their daily lives? It must be a 10 minute struggle trying to find the best way to cross the road.

Apparently babies used to sleep in caves, so do crack on with the horrible tacky headbands!

Oh user. Has it never occurred to you that there is a reason child mortality rates are the lowest they've ever been? I'm not talking specifically about the headband issue, BTW, but I don't think it's a terrible idea that parents are more aware of and try to minimise choking risks / other hazards.

Actually, lack of discussions like these were the reason for higher infant mortality rates in previous generations. Apart from the fact that these monstrosities are a relatively new craze.

Eg. My mother rolled her eyes at me for asking her to tie up the blind cords in her house while my dcs were toddling (and there obviously), and I'm guessing it would be seen as an overreaction of modern hysterical parenting. Except it's not, blinds are now made with safety fittings to try to stop the many many young children from hanging themselves on them, which happened far too often, and still does.

And, to the original subject, given how soft and unformed an infant's skull is, is it really that much of a shock to hear that putting a tight band round them (tight enough to stay on), may be damaging?

My parents roll their eyes at car seats, breastfeeding, later weaning, not using jars, not smacking, buying new mattresses for each child, setting bleach out of reach.
I give not a shit what anyone rolls their eyes at.

I think they look a bit ridiculous on babies who have no hair, but it's up to the parents and baby what they wear I suppose (my babies would have screamed and pulled anything like that straight off!).

I'd worry about them being a strangulation hazard though - if a baby can pull it down around their neck, they could twist it until they couldn't breathe, surely? So I'd never leave a baby unattended with one of these on.

Hate this trend with a passion! Babies are cute enough they don't need hair accessories etc! I would also worry about safety. There is a school mum near us also making & spelling on FB. Seems to be the norm now even on really tiny newborns😐

DD gets mistaken for a boy quite often (because I don't like pink, and obviously if she's not in pink, she's not a girl). I couldn't give two shits. Hate these headbands; naff and I also agree, probably an unnecessary risk.

Didn't know about the fusing skull risk, but that's enough to put me off without any other reasons.

The giant tacky looking ones are awful for everyday wear. Ok for a photoshoot but not to be worn for long. Of course you can get baby wigs and baby high heels... not to mention the little bows you stick to baby's head with glue

Its all too much. Just let the baby be a baby and stop playing dress up dolly.

What's the equivalent of this tasteless horror for a male infant? A scud missile model stuck jauntily behind the ear?

Love this!

Ha! Had a thought, googled, and yes!
Boy version of ghastly headbands

I can't stand those bloody things. They just look ridiculous, but then I hate pink things too. A woman regularly comes into work pushing her young daughter in a pushchair covered in pink fluff and I think blugh.

They're horrible but they're not dangerous

I am not going to get myself heated up about baby headbands. Personally I think most look very sweet. Surely there are more serious things to worked up over?

I think they look very cute. DD wears one. If you don't like them then just don't buy one, simple as.

They are vile, I agree with the 'looking like an Easter Egg" . NYADNBU. They don't look cute they look silly and COULD be dangerous.

Babies are not dolls.

DD had quite an impressive afro by about 3 months and a headband was practical. I bought her the young childrens' ones from Claires, they were very stretchy with a discreet little bow.

The ott flowery numbers look a bit silly, however I can't find it within myself to get worked up about something that will in all likelihood cause absolutely no harm.

user146 etc:

You don't mean you actually think they are tasteful and acceptable?

The newborns in awful squat positions with one of those things around its head are to be pitied. Genuinely.

...their heads..,

Chavtastic.

The baby boy version, I mean. Haha, though, at the tats.

They go imo alongside babies with pierced ears, 'Baby on Board' notices in cars just make me think 'So bloody what? is that an euphemism for bad driver?, ditto 'Little Princess on Board' ----

That photo of the lacy flower one looks grotesque, I agree pp, à la Frankenstein 😖