To let my baby play with glass jars?

[Goldfishshoals]

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?

That activity sounds fine for the stage your baby is at, very Montessori.
I've found that the children who play with more materials learn to be more careful with objects a lot faster than children who only play with plastic or "baby proof" items.

OP I wouldn't dismiss the value off some plastic jars btw. Loads of improvised games for babies and toddler with jars with various things in/lids on and off etc. If he liked it, it doesn't need to be a one-off few minutes and you don't need to buy a 'proper baby toy' either. Investing in some plastic jars is good advice.

Fill some old plastic drinks bottles and tape the lid on. Fill one with lentils, another with water and objects, another with glitter water etc. Cheap and easy.

OP states that opinions differing with her above scenario are from "people who have misunderstood"

Oh come on, be fair. I haven't said 'everyone who's opinion differs from mine has misunderstood'. I said a few people who talked about 'dropping' had misunderstood because you can't drop something that's already on the floor! I have accepted that most people (not 'everyone' as you incorrectly state) think this was a bad idea and that I hadn't considered the chance of a glass jar spontaneously shattering to be that high.

I'm sure the poster who suggested you bought plastic jars if your child really likes them is now suitably chastised for this totally absurd and unreasonable suggestion

Lots of posters have made this suggestion. I do find it a bit pointless and absurd, as the OP clearly states this was something I have already done, not something I am intending to do in the future, and I don't have a time machine.

Why then get annoyed?

I'm not annoyed at all. Tone is hard to read in text I know but I'm just chatting!

You never know, they may look sturdy but shatter easily. Just use plastic. It's not hard.

The thing is the specific situation you described probably is safe enough.

But babies move on really fast and parents occasionally get distracted.

So the danger is that you start thinking if these as "safe" when really, inherently they are only safe while the baby can't pick them up or move them quickly and while you are supervising.

In a month's time suddenly the baby gets strong enough to whack them together just at the very moment the postman comes to the door.

My other concern is that the baby learns that glass jars are an acceptable playing with thing. He won't distinguish between your safe, supervised arrangement and the glass jar at your Mum's or your friend's house.

In the end it's a risk assessment. Your baby, your risk assessment, but it's not a choice I'd personally make, because I do think glass and babies are a dangerous combination.

I'm amazed people think no 5 month olds could suddenly pick up (and drop) a glass jar. When my DS was 5 months he used to lean over and pull tables towards him if there was something he wanted on it (he was massive and beginning his ongoing naughty streak, admittedly). He went to Montessori nursery, where they did do stuff with glass. I still wouldn't have done what the OP did.

If your baby enjoys it then why why don't you invest in some plastic jars or bottles?

Its fine. Very wnaky basket actually. (Heuristic play)

a 5 month old on their tummy with a glass jar may pick up their HEAD and smash it on the jar

LDR "Erm ... yes ... but have you been headbutted by a five month old recently? I have a violent little thug and she cracks me a good 'un on a regular basis. It's not remotely close to enough force to break a jar."
They may not break the jar but they sure as hell will get a very nasty bump from head butting a glass jar. And as others have said, glass is an unpredictable substance.

Imagine if your baby did bang their head against the glass jar and it shattered?

I think they're are numerous other things a 5 month old could do. Playing with glass jars would be way down my list

'I do find it a bit pointless and absurd, as the OP clearly states this was something I have already done, not something I am intending to do in the future, and I don't have a time machine.'

But surely if he liked it you might do it again?! Babies love repetition. Are you planning on only playing every game once? That's quite a challenge. Jars and things in them are popular from babies through to pre-schoolers it is not absurd to suggest that you invest in plastic ones going forward. No need for a time machine either. Just the ability to accept a bit of friendly advice.

I'm amazed how worried people are at this. It's just a heavy duty glass! Crikey. There's no point worrying what will happen as the baby gets older either, at 5 months it will just be a thing of the moment. OP if I were you, I wouldn't bother asking anyone. If I listed the risks I've allowed my kids to do many people would be shocked. Toys are boring! Try making some treasure baskets, baby will love that. If you haven't already got one, get an emergency foil blanket on Amazon. They're about 99p. Noisy but babies love sensory play.

I have no idea what people are talking about. OF course it's fine, a 5 month old is not going to hurt themselves with it.

Sure they could bump their head against, where it would be no different at all from the wooden shit that no doubt you all love. Or indeed any other toy.

If, honestly, if you spend your life worrying about unlikely events, you could go a long way before this one would even rate. By the logic of this thread:

• baby cannot be put in the car. The windows are (shatter proof) glass! He might leap out of his seat and hit them! Or bash against them while being put in!
• the baby cannot be shown his face in the mirror. He might reach out and smash it with his tiny fist!
• the baby cannot be held up to the window to look at the garden. He might kick or headbutt that glass!

You can see how ridiculous it sounds.

Yes, sure, a baby could theoretically do some of these things and it would be absolutely terrible. But the alternative is never doing anything with your baby, because you'll never be perfectly prepared and perfectly able to prevent every tiny danger.

One jar, seems OK, but it's the "couple of" I'd pause at--because of the risk of one bashing the other.

It was a couple of jars because I put different things in them, but only one was being rolled at a time.

My other concern is that the baby learns that glass jars are an acceptable playing with thing.

My baby shows no signs whatsoever of understanding the difference between acceptable and non-acceptable play objects!

Babies love repetition. Are you planning on only playing every game once?

I could give you a massive list of the things my baby has gone nutty with excitement for the first time and then shown no interest in after. I wish he loved repetition! And frankly, he wasn't that interested in the jars, so no I wasn't thinking of doing it again.

I wouldn't dismiss the value of some plastic jars

Do you all work for plastic jar making companies or something ?!

I get it, I get it, plastic jar baby toys are obviously a "thing", I'll ask my DM to buy some for plastic jars for the baby for Christmas.

For now I'll go back to improvising entertainment from what we have... I'm giving him the cardboard roll from inside a kitchen roll this afternoon!

None iof your examples are comparable to putting a glass jar in front of a baby, who is on their stomach.
My 2DDs are now in their 20s so I've obviously taken many "risks" with them. This would be one I just wouldn't do. I'd just find something else for them to interact with.

But the OP can do what the heck she likes, she asked for opinions and I gave mine.

Maybe you could get him one of these types of toys? It's safer, plastic, and similar to what you were doing with the glass jars?

www.argos.co.uk/product/6197687?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156%7Ccid:189934165%7Cagid:18091992685%7Ctid:aud-140969654713:pla-271350687505%7Ccrid:77627768005%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:16104951012884438683%7Cdvc:t%7Cadp:1o2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkq6rmJuO1gIVa7HtCh1dHAr1EAQYAiABEgLwX_D_BwE

(Sorry I cannot figure out links!)

rhythmsofplay.com/windy-fall-leaves-sensory-bottle/

OP, the above website has lots of ideas for making different themed sensory bottles that you might find interesting if you were thinking of doing something like this again.

I did this with my first. I used baby food jars with rice and pasta in for her to shake she loved them

Maybe you could get him one of these types of toys?

That looks fun, if I had any money for toys I'd consider it.

But given the fact that most of the toys he has been bought have been 'one hit wonders' I'd be reluctant to spend much money even if I had it (which I don't).

I'm sure everyone is aware that you've already done this. The suggestions were for in the future to stop you doing something potentially dangerous when your baby might get hurt.

I don't see any problem with it. Your mum should have just asked if it was safe if she was concerned. The way you've explained it sounds safe enough to me.

I bought one of those toys from early learning years ago - wasn't cheap then either and was used probably once ... may be an idea to put coloured rice or pasta in a PLASTIC jar for nearly the same effect but a lot cheaper

I would be more concened about the weight of glass jars filled with water

Cor, I'm surprised at the responses you're getting, OP. You've said your baby was just rolling them on the floor.

Whilst supervised.

I don't see an issue with it, to be fair. I'm pretty sure that a 5 month old isn't going to suddenly pick up a (full) jar and throw it at himself. You've said it was on the floor, too, so he can't drop it from a height.

Meh. I don't think you've done anything wrong, but we're quite resourceful.