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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

123 replies

KitKat1985 · 03/11/2017 19:03

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?

OP posts:
TheFifthKey · 03/11/2017 21:29

I hate them because of the advert, although I would let an older child have one. DD (3) came back from exH with a sparkler burn on her hand though Angry Definitely wouldn’t have let her have one without some sort of hand protection (would an oven glove work?)

Loveisthelaw · 03/11/2017 21:31

My son who is two was given one at nursery today! Had to sign a consent form first. They had special gloves and someone else helping them while another of the staff took photos. It was all OK but kind of glad I hadn't read this first!

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/11/2017 21:35

A two year old at nursery. Are they mad?!!

outedmyselfagain · 03/11/2017 21:36

Glow sticks just seem so much safer and then they can put them in the bath afterwards and have a glowing bubble bath in a dark bathroom.

Original poster
KitKat1985 · 03/11/2017 21:37

Loveisthelaw. Shock I'm genuinely shocked your nursery did that!

OP posts:
Fuckit2017 · 03/11/2017 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jenala · 03/11/2017 21:41

This thread makes me feel better. I've always hated sparklers, as long as I remember, and still don't understand why people like them. I just don't get why you'd want to hold something so hot with sparks flying off it. I remember as a child all my friends being excited about it and I really wasn't. No way would I give my 2 year old one.

It's one of those things people have fond memories of from their own childhoods and they get very defensive when it's suggested that it's a really weird thing to do. Because it is really weird to me. So little reward for relatively high risk of injury.

Some PPs are happy to give their children sparklers at an age where many people still have their kids in bloody cots so they don't fall out of bed Hmm

Loveisthelaw · 03/11/2017 21:43

In hindsight, I probably should have been more cautious or asked more questions. I All well though!
This will make me more careful at the big fireworks display we are going to this weekend as I'm sure there will be loads about. I'll get some glow sticks...

Carouselfish · 03/11/2017 21:45

YANBU. If I was holding my 2 year old's hand with a sparkler in it, I'd be close enough for her to try to jab it into my face, which she might well do if she thought it'd be funny.

pinkliquorice · 03/11/2017 21:45

My 3 and 4 year olds will be given sparklers tomorrow night. Think it really depends on the the child, if your 3 year old can’t be trusted and is likely to hurt themselves than don’t let them if they understand and you are supervising, no issues.
There fun and magic to them.

Nanny0gg · 03/11/2017 21:49

My son who is two was given one at nursery today! Had to sign a consent form first. They had special gloves and someone else helping them while another of the staff took photos. It was all OK but kind of glad I hadn't read this first!

What?? What on earth were they thinking?

Fireworks should absolutely not be within miles of a nursery setting, consent forms or no consent forms!

The council and their insurance company should be informed - there is no way they would be covered for that kind of negligence stupidity.

redexpat · 03/11/2017 21:49

I could give one to ds when he was 2 or 3. I wil not give one to dd because she is friggin bonkers.

Ttbb · 03/11/2017 21:50

YANBU. Completely unnecessary risk.

Nanny0gg · 03/11/2017 21:52

if they understand and you are supervising, no issues.

Do people not realise that toddlers (however sensible they think they are) have very poor impulse control?

I know I'm whistling in the wind here, but I am gobsmacked by the arrant stupidity (and that's what it is) exhibited on this thread.

I hope the luck that has followed you all so far, continues.

Sirzy · 03/11/2017 21:55

Those who don’t see a problem would you give your toddler a lighter or box of matches to play with “well supervised”

wherethewildrosesgrow · 03/11/2017 21:55

no, I wont be giving any of my children sparklers, it baffles me at the local firework display how parent seem fine with their small children waving around a hot stick in close vicinity of other children....even if you are holding their hand, nothing to stop another small child grapping it, or falling towards it. if a toddler was waving around a some other boiling hot object in the middle of may, I'm sure it wouldn't be acceptable....what different on nov 5th ?

BertieBotts · 03/11/2017 21:56

YANBU OP they scare me too.

What about posting some kind of firework safety infographic on Facebook?

With supervision, by which I mean holding the child's hand, and an extremely compliant toddler it might be okay. The problem is that it would only take a second's touch for a potentially very serious injury. It's not like being relaxed about them touching a radiator where they'll touch it and immediately snatch their hand away. Sparklers are hot enough to immediately melt skin.

Thegiantofillinois · 03/11/2017 21:58

Tell you what though, those 80s adverts worked a treat. I'm the other side of 35 and the sparkler advert has denied my kids ever having sparklers.

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 03/11/2017 22:19

I always thought that sparklers were things that older children had and I’m Shock to find on MN that people effectively put fire in their 2yo’s hands. When on another thread people are getting all cats bum mouth about a 5yo watching TV in their room 🙄 this place is weird. And YANBU. Toddlers shouldn’t have sparklers.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 03/11/2017 22:25

@PinkHeart5914 please don't make him wear gloves! Unless they're the fireproof type! He's better with an open hand getting a few specks of heat, than a speck of heat causing a whole glove to go up in flames!

Is there even one accident prevention service or fire brigrade that doesn’t advise wearing gloves whilst using them?

Every single firework safety leaflet that gets shoved in my letter box has wear gloves written on it

Cutesbabasmummy · 03/11/2017 22:27

My son will be 3 in January and he won't be having a sparkler this year. Plenty if time for making memories ahead.

acatcalledjohn · 03/11/2017 22:33

YANBU. I hate the fuckers. At primary school they once made us as the older kids hold sparklers during the Christmas carol service. I freaked out as soon as it was lit and refused.

A few years later we had some for New Year's Eve. I stuck them in the ground before lighting them.

TittyGolightly · 03/11/2017 22:34

Christ. Don’t go to Iceland for New Years. The kids run with sparklers there.

Fruitcorner123 · 03/11/2017 22:43

Its strongly advised by the fire service never to give a sparkler to an under 5.