AIBU to think you shouldn't give a toddler a sparkler?

[KitKat1985]

Just that really. Quite a few pics on my facebook feed of people with their 2 / 3 year olds holding lit sparklers. It gives me 'the fear' just looking at it and I just can't imagine ever giving my 3 year old a sparkler at her age. I've seen enough pictures of sparkler burns to know how dangerous they are, and I just don't think children that small understand how dangerous they are. I'm sure the parents are supervising and everything, but it only takes a second for a toddler to grab the 'lit' end or to pick up a used sparkler off the ground and not realise it's only just gone out and it's still burning hot. AIBU and a killjoy?

With close supervision I think they're fine. They need to experience things to learn

Yes. Of course they do.

Sparklers, like other fireworks, must be used with care. They can get 6 times as hot as a pan of cooking oil and sparkler injuries have been on the increase. It makes sense to keep sparklers in safe hands.

Ideal for toddlers, don't you think?

Ideal for toddlers, don't you think?

As the parent of kids that managed not to burn themselves or others then yes - I do think. That's my job to decide, not yours.

I thought my DS was sensible and understood safety until he rode his bike randomly into the road. Luckily the car coming towards him swerved. I was right there next to him and still.have no idea why he did this. He was 5. I won't be trusting mine with slarklers until they are 6 or 7 at least. Children can be so unpredictable and relying on them to look after their own safety and follow the rules is a risky strategy however sensible they normally are.

Yeh I gave one to my daughter last year, she was just over 2 years old.
Life is full of risk. We go in the car for non essential journeys, which is much more dangerous imo!

Children can be so unpredictable and relying on them to look after their own safety and follow the rules is a risky strategy however sensible they normally are.

Quite,

No I don't think a car jourmey is actually more dangerous than a toddler with a sparkler assuming you are a safe driver.

I've got a nice scar next to my eye from a sparkler aged 4. I'm very lucky to still have vision in that eye. I was very well supervised as there is photographic evidence, but, you know, kids can be unpredictable....

I am absolutely staggered at the justifications for risk for something as absolutely and totally unnecessary as waving a bloody sparkler around.

Yes you can be smug because your 'sensible' toddlers (oxymoron) came to no harm because of your extreme vigilance. But why the hell would you even risk it?

YANBU, I would allow my very sensible 7 year old to have one but my daft 5 year old I wouldn't and my toddler, no way! Not worth the risk. No matter how sensible a toddler is they do not have the understanding to handle them. Most people will have no issues but some will and it isn't worth it imo.

I don’t think “my child did and is fine” is really a good justification. It still doesn’t Change he fact that allowing a child to play with fire isn’t really that sensible.

I think some people get caught up in the occasion and common sense goes out the window

I would let my 2 year old hold one a long as an adult was holding it with him.

It's illegal to sell sparklers and other fireworks to regular customers in Delaware and Massachusetts (though you can buy a gun...)

I wouldn’t. However I don’t much like them myself, never have, never wanted to hold them when I was small.

Incidentally I got scarred as I was trying to wrestle my hand away from my parents hand so I could hold it on my own....

My views exactly NannyOgg. I have no idea why anyone would take the potential risk for a few seconds of waving a sparkler around.

Everyone who has young kids knows they can get into mischief at a moments notice. I'm sure all the young children that do end up with sparkler burns have incredibly loving parents who 'only turned my back for a second' or stated 'she was just too quick for me to stop her'. It's just far too easy for young children to burn themselves with these things for me to see how it would be worth the risk.

That TV advert they made in my childhood was very effective

None Here . Ever ever

What's the point of wearing gloves? (genuine question)

YANBU. I still find it hard to hold them now, 54 years after my neighbour held one out for me to take. I took it off her by the lit end. Being 3 I had no idea it would be hot as well as pretty.

I thought about it for my 4yo but the 2yo would want one and she's in a fiercely independent phase so wouldn't be happy with us holding the sparkler with her. She doesn't reliably respond to direct instructions. I'm thinking maybe when they are 4yo and 6yo.

boston a lot of sparkler accidents are children grabbing the "wrong end" of extinguished but still hot sparklers.

Cross post with Bambury that's exactly what dd2 would do, try to wrestle it off us and blind either herself or the unfortunate adult supervising.

2 year olds with sparklers? Utterly irresponsible. Unbelievable.

Are you in your 40s? I recall that Public Information film about the dangers of sparklers in the 1980s. I wouldn't give a sparkler to anyone!

Mid-30's stargirl so not far off. I think I do vaguely remember the advert though.

Star the one which ends with a little girl with her hand all bandaged up?