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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To let my baby play with glass jars?

121 replies

Goldfishshoals · 05/09/2017 12:26

My 5 month old is fascinated watching peoples drinks, especially if they have ice/fruit etc floating in them.

So I thought he might find it fun if I half filled a couple of small very sturdy jars with water and various floating/sinking objects to push around and look at on the soft floor of his playmat (while constantly supervised, lids taped down for extra paranoia even though I know he can't open them).

My DM saw and has basically had a go for my dangerous parenting - glass is a terribly bad idea and that the baby might suddenly learn to throw them.

I'm pretty sure I would struggle to break one by throwing, I know I've dropped one from counter height into a tiled floor and it didn't break, and the baby can't really throw at all (he can drop things, but I was only playing down on the floor on a soft mat where they had no where to fall). Plus I was right there helping him roll the jars.

My instinct is to ignore my DM (long history may be clouding my judgement) but the doubt is in my mind. So mumsnet jury, was I unreasonable to let my baby play like this?

OP posts:

MerryMarigold · 05/09/2017 13:06

they're pretty heavy if he drops one on his leg or bashes himself on the head

Is a 5 month old actually able to PICK UP these jars filled with water? With their iddy biddy little hands? I am mighty impressed.

MerryMarigold · 05/09/2017 13:06

Also neither is posting on mumsnet and then arguing with the consensus

Now that I agree with!

MerryMarigold · 05/09/2017 13:07

Oh, and by the way, glass feeding bottles are all the rage in some circles, so I guess glass and babies do go together sometimes.

GummyGoddess · 05/09/2017 13:10

If he was just rolling them around on the padded floor I see no issue. I wouldn't give one to my 11 month old as they will bang or throw it but your baby is not at that stage yet so I don't think you did anything wrong.

Mellington · 05/09/2017 13:10

Plastic water bottle, about 50p, not only much safer but you're recycling too.

Original poster

Goldfishshoals · 05/09/2017 13:10

Also don't ask questions if you just want everyone to agree with you!

I don't want everyone to agree, I genuinely wanted to know peoples opinion, but when people say it's dangerous for reasons that weren't physically possible, it's clear they haven't understood the situation.

drops one on his leg
The baby was on his tummy on the mat, with the jar in front of him being rolled back and forwards. It couldn't 'drop' anywhere, least of all his leg, which were behind him.

OP posts:

WineAndTiramisu · 05/09/2017 13:12

I'm not sure a 5 month old is going to grab them off mum, smash them or drop them on his head... I wouldn't have an issue as long as you're playing with him, probably not unsupervised though.

Littlejayx · 05/09/2017 13:14

I really wouldn't, plastic is a far cheaper and safer.

SilverySurfer · 05/09/2017 13:15

Since it's obvious you have no intention of listening to any of the replies on here, give your child the glass jars and fingers crossed he/she doesn't find a way of breaking it/injuring themselves. Why even ask since you obviously determined to do it anyway.

stopbeingadramallama · 05/09/2017 13:18

Dense

tamepanda · 05/09/2017 13:20

So long as you are with your 5 month old and supervising the whole time then there won't be any opportunity for your child to hurt themselves.
My DD who's 19 months loves to play with the miniature jam jars (like you get in a coffee shop), has done for 4/5 month - has never broken one or cut herself - because she's been supervised and taught how to play gently with them. Any rough play with them and they get taken away.

JassyRadlett · 05/09/2017 13:20

Is a 5 month old actually able to PICK UP these jars filled with water? With their iddy biddy little hands? I am mighty impressed.

Maybe or maybe not (DS2 would have given it a go) but both mine were stonkingly good at head butting stuff, particularly when on their tummies.

I tried to keep very hard things away from their heads for that reason.

Cloudhopping · 05/09/2017 13:21

I think it's a really stupid idea, sorry.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 05/09/2017 13:23

Supervised play for a 5 month old - can't really see a massive problem as a one off though I'd get some plastic bottles for the future.

Glass can be unpredictable - the glass door on our washing machine spontaneously exploded - very unusual apparently but it happens!

Original poster

Goldfishshoals · 05/09/2017 13:23

Why even ask since you obviously determined to do it anyway.

If you'd read the OP you'd have realised I already have done it, past tense, I was just asking whether I was unreasonable to have done so.

Im not interested in arguing with peoples opinions, just correcting people who seemed not to have understood the OP because they repeatedly talked about the jar 'dropping' after I explained that it was on a soft mat on the floor the whole time and couldn't 'drop' anywhere.

OP posts:

PollyFlint · 05/09/2017 13:24

If the baby is only five months old and lying on his tummy, I'm guessing he can barely pick them up, let alone throw them or drop them.

Looking at the type of jar you posted, I doubt it's dangerous at all. Quite a good idea actually.

If you'd said you've given a toddler glass stuff to play with, that would be different, but a 5-month-old baby isn't going to come to any harm in the scenario you describe.

Serialweightwatcher · 05/09/2017 13:27

I do think she was over reacting a bit when you were supervising him at all times ... he's obviously not big enough to crawl or lift them so with you being there it's fine would still go out and buy plastic at earliest opportunity

wonkylegs · 05/09/2017 13:28

In the situation you described (under close supervision, rolling on surface very small baby) I actually would have no problem with them however my proviso would be that remember situations with baby's ability can change quite quickly so what is fine now may now be in a couple of weeks. Maybe start collecting other containers to continue with as they get older ones they can start to shake, roll, drop etc by themselves.

Iloverichtea · 05/09/2017 13:29

Jeez some mighty overprotective types here! While giving a baby glass jars is general is obviously a bad idea, in the situation you describe OP, I don't think there are any issues. I don't think YWBU at all!

Gatehouse77 · 05/09/2017 13:31

Under supervision I'd have done the same as you.

At home, apart from the odd naff character thing, mine have never had plastic crockery or cutlery. At 6 months they learnt to drink from a shot glass.

Personally, I think most people are overreacting about a one off experience. I've cut myself of shards of plastic from broken things.

RaincloudOfDoom · 05/09/2017 13:32

YANBU. I can't think of anything that could realistically happen with a 5 month old and a small glass jar, but you know, unrealistically, he could suddenly develop hulk-like strength, pick up the jar and smash it against his head - and then how would you feel? (headtilt)

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 05/09/2017 13:32

Not having any plastic jars is an insane reason to give your baby glass to play with! Would you give him Fanta to drink if you didn't have any milk?

mistermagpie · 05/09/2017 13:35

Are people missing that this child is 5 months old? I have a 5 month old and there is not a chance in hell he could pick up and throw, or even drop, a glass jar (I'm imagining a jam jar here). My DS might be particularly slow in development I suppose, but I'd be surprised if many 5 month olds are capable of smashing a jam jar on a carpet whilst lying on their tummy being supervised...

Evelynismyspyname · 05/09/2017 13:36

Goldfish was it more that you were playing with the jars for him to watch?

It sounds as if he isn't yet sitting or doing much of anything, so was really just watching you move the water in the jars?

That would be far less dangerous, but the title is very sensationalist and dramatic and of course everyone will tell you it's dangerous to let a baby play with glass jars!

Lovingmybear2 · 05/09/2017 13:36

Op your parenting is beyond reproach.

Satisfied? Personally sounds bat shit to me but there you go.

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