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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Child at gym burnt hand on my hair straightener

238 replies

Geraderaus · 22/12/2016 20:25

I had a rather alarming thing happen this morning and would appreciate your take on it. I was at the gym in the changing room after a work out. I was drying my hair like I do there regularly and had plugged in my hair straighteners and they were sitting on the surface in front of me. I do this regularly, it's allowed to use your own things like this in the gym and many people do.

A woman with a toddler about two years old came next to me and she stared drying her hair. We were both stood up and the toddler was climbing on a little stool. The toddler reached across to my hair straightener (heating up, the plates were very hot) and I quickly said "no don't touch that!" And moved them to my other side further away from the child (who had not touched them by this point). The mother saw this and batted her child's hand away. The mother was not speaking English to the child so not sure if she understood me it in the context it couldn't have been more obvious what was said.

I continued to dry my hair and the child was toddling about and trying to grab things like my make up bag which I just kept moving away from him but it's a small area and it was all within his reach. The mother seemed to tell him off once or twice. When I was still drying my hair the toddler lunged at the straighteners and they fell to the floor burning his arm, probably quite badly. I rushed as best I could to grab them and move them but it happened in a split second and was too late by then. The mother was hysterical and screaming at me in a language I didn't understand, she was furious and other people came over including staff.

The child was taken to hospital and gym staff have noted my name and contact details. Can there be any repercussions for this? What did I do wrong?

OP posts:
Allalonenow · 22/12/2016 21:38

Do not visit child or send gifts of any sort, in fact I wouldn't ask after the child either.

Write a very detailed report as soon as possible, tomorrow, with every single detail that you can remember. Was the child there for an activity or just with its mother? How closely was the mother watching the child? Did the mother warn the child in your hearing? Was the mother paying attention to the child or busy getting ready herself?

HeddaGarbled · 22/12/2016 21:38

I think it highly unlikely that you are in any way legally liable. The gym might have to tighten their safety procedures though which may mean banning the use of straighteners in future.

I know this isn't the point of the thread but I do wonder what sort of society we live in now where a woman feels she has to pack hair straighteners in her gym bag and use them before she leaves the gym. Do people recoil in horror if a woman is seen in public with unstraight hair?

Bestthingever · 22/12/2016 21:42

Why do people abdicate responsibly for their children's safety? If it were my dc, I would have kept them far from the straighteners. I would have blamed myself. Tbh I'm a mum if 3 but I do think a gym should be a child free haven (probably not a popular opinion).

OopsDearyMe · 22/12/2016 21:44

Are you sure that they took your details for negative reasons, maybe they wanted to ensure that they could keep you updated.confidentially would mean that they could not give out your details and it would be the gym not you that would be liable.
The woman should not have had the child near you when she knew that you have straighteners. It was probably guilt that made her shout at you.
Not your fault in anyway. Idiot mothers !

ScarletForYa · 22/12/2016 21:44

the toddler lunged at the straighteners and they fell to the floor burning his arm, probably quite badly

Probably?

I suggest you focus on checking out how the child is doing and forget about yourself for the moment.

Poole5 · 22/12/2016 21:45

I know this isn't the point of the thread but I do wonder what sort of society we live in now where a woman feels she has to pack hair straighteners in her gym bag and use them before she leaves the gym. Do people recoil in horror if a woman is seen in public with unstraight hair?

It's personal choice just like make up and other shit.

You probably do things too

LynetteScavo · 22/12/2016 21:45

Ultimately the mother should have kept the child safe. She was aware of the hazard but didn't make sure her child didn't touch.

However, I'm ultra nervous about hot things and toddlers so I would have turned them off if the were mine and given the mother a filthy look

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 22/12/2016 21:48

Yep there's never any reason for male children over the age of 7 to be with a parent who just happens to be female. Except because the parent wants them to glare at tits, obviously.

Oh FFS.

Ladies, if you feel uncomfortable at males in a space where you're naked, don't flatter yourselves into thinking they want to stare at your tits. You silly hysterical little things, you've got the vote, what on earth do you want privacy for?!

HermioneWeasley · 22/12/2016 21:48

How could you be responsible?

You did nothing wrong, and it sounds like you did more to keep the child safe than his mother did. Don't give it another thought.

Candlestickchick · 22/12/2016 21:49

scarletforya that's harsh and preachy. OP is perfectly entitled to consider her position.

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 22/12/2016 21:49

I know this isn't the point of the thread but I do wonder what sort of society we live in now where a woman feels she has to pack hair straighteners in her gym bag and use them before she leaves the gym. Do people recoil in horror if a woman is seen in public with unstraight hair?

Probably because she likes to have straight hair and has the time and inclination to straighten it.

HTH.

Poole5 · 22/12/2016 21:52

I suggest you focus on checking out how the child is doing and forget about yourself for the moment

How should she get in touch with the mother to find out about the child?

AliceInUnderpants · 22/12/2016 21:54

Cherry that was in response to the original comment as follows;

I also dislike it when they bring overage boys in (over 7, I think) who stare at women drying themselves and getting dressed.

bumsexatthebingo · 22/12/2016 21:57

Well yanbu to be using straighteners if the gym allows it but I think that having straighteners resting on shelves in a potentially busy public changing room is an accident waiting to happen - not just for toddlers but for anyone knocking into someone using them.
I imagine the gym must be well insured if they allow this so I wouldn't worry.

DailyFail1 · 22/12/2016 21:58

Children under 16 should be banned from gyms in my opinion. Absolutely hated paying £100+ per month on so called premium gyms where spoiled rich parents allowed their spoiled rich kids to run riot ( opening shower curtains, opening bags, poking fun of other users). The PAYG gyms in my area have no staff so don't allow kids under 16 at all & it's bliss!

periwinklepickspoppies · 22/12/2016 21:58

At the gym I go to children are not allowed in the gym or changing rooms until they are 13 or there seeing one of the medical team. Any younger and they are expected to be at home, in the pool if 8+ or in the crèche. YANBU.

1DAD2KIDS · 22/12/2016 22:00

I think if there is any negligence it would be the mothers. Especially by the time the toddler burn him self she was perfectly aware of the presence of your straighteners from the previous attempt to grab them.

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 22/12/2016 22:00

I know Alice and my comment still stands, I also dislike 'overage' boys being in female changing spaces (especially when like my gym there's no cubicles)

WooWooSister · 22/12/2016 22:00

I know I'm in the minoroty but I would think you were responsible for what happened (even if it had been an adult beside you that burned their arm when the straighteners fell). You were the person with the equipment that can cause injury. I'd expect you to ensure they didn't.
No one else knew if they were on and even if the child hadn't suddenly lunged, it sounds as though they were positioned in a way they could easily be knocked on the floor.

SoupDragon · 22/12/2016 22:01

Personally I would have specifically told the mother to stop her child trying to grab the straighteners or turned them off when it was clear the child was going to keep grabbing for them.

They could easily have been turned on when you were ready to use them rather than having something dangerously hot there whilst you dried your hair.

december10th · 22/12/2016 22:01

I think the mother will go after the gym.They owe a duty of care to their customers- you do not
If they are allowing straightners in an area with toddlers then I would say that is pretty negligent - the gym can't just absolve itself from responsibility by saying the parent should have been watching. I doubt their insurers know they are allowing this (for a start all appliances should be PAT tested I would have thought)

MatildaTheCat · 22/12/2016 22:04

I belong to DL and there are signs saying children mustn't use the hairdryer so unsupervised but so many parents take no notice or of the adults only section of the changing rooms. I have had to intervene to stop a toddler from burning her head with a hot hairdryer before now.

IMO children should be changed in family only areas and adults left to straighten their hair in peace. Not anti child at all,must past that stage and pay a fortune for some quiet time to myself. Our club has a lovely family changing room but hardly anyone wants to use it.

ghostspirit · 22/12/2016 22:04

Why does a gym even allow children in the changing rooms. It's not saget for them.

Mum should have been watching. But also it was an accident. Mum should not have shouted at you but maybe it was shock.

If you need to do a report then write what you did in your op.

You must be feeling pretty shit op but it's really not your fault Flowers

LeadPipe · 22/12/2016 22:06

Where's the OP? Still thinking this is a litigator using MNers as a focus group for a personal injury claimant!

Candlestickchick · 22/12/2016 22:09

You were the person with the equipment that can cause injury. I'd expect you to ensure they didn't

Is this a joke? We are now responsible for ensuring other people take basic care for their own and their children's safety around an every day item?

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