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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

ScissorBow · 03/11/2017 22:47

I was proud of my 4 year old today when she said 'why are those people using sparklers without gloves?' I haven't taught her that because we don't do sparklers so obviously the school are on message there. I also have a 2 year old and dear me I absolutely wouldn't.

LouHotel · 03/11/2017 22:47

Nope. They have plenty of years to enjoy sparklers there's no need to risk serious harm at 2 years old.

I think sometime after 3 when impulse is a bit more under control and based on child's maturity.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 03/11/2017 22:50

Yes I am 44 and that advert with the girl picked it up and screams 😩
Then you see her with a bandaged hand

The 70s and 80s adverts are So effective

I also avoid electricity substations when frisbee-ing too

TittyGolightly · 03/11/2017 22:51

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

In Iceland it’s the fire service selling them.

Their kids must be some different species.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 03/11/2017 22:54

Maybe they get cold reallly fast when they drop on the icy floor

Witchend · 03/11/2017 23:24

It does depend on the child.
We let dd1 because she was very sensible and we could say that you don't touch with the other hand and she wouldn't-even at 2yo. Did it with our hand over her hand, and holding her other hand.
Did it with dd2 because she only has one hand so couldn't touch with the other hand.
Ds we allowed watch the other two through the window.

Original poster

KitKat1985 · 04/11/2017 07:44

I found the sparkler safety advert on YouTube (it's the first one).

OP posts:

Financialconund · 04/11/2017 07:46

I think it depends on the dc as well. I could have never taken this risk with my dc, they move quickly, get distracted etc

coconuttella · 04/11/2017 08:04

I remember fireworks where children were primary age.... it was all very organised with children in well-spaced circle and water buckets in he middle, with plenty of parents supervising. At the end children were told to go and put their sparklers in to the buckets in the middle. Sounds like a sensible arrangement on the face of it..

However......can anyone see the danger here of this set up? No one of the responsible adults did beforehand, and neither did I. Makes me shudder to think of it!

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 04/11/2017 08:32

Let's play with .....

Some explosives ! And some hot metal !

That video I almost couldn't watch and I had the volume down

Years and years - so effective 😩😩😩

BillywilliamV · 04/11/2017 08:38

Oh for heavens sake, obviously you don’t give a toddler a sparkler and then go and make a cup of tea or nip to the loo!
Is this really worth debating?

dimondjedi9 · 04/11/2017 09:08

I think it’s quite negligent to give a toddler a sparkler, imagine how guilty you would feel if god forbid something happened and he/she burned themselves, you’d never forgive yourself.
This just goes back to the post about we should be prohibiting the general public from buying any type of firework.
My dad was a paramedic for 30 and he would always tell my sister and I about the awful shouts he had to attend during fireworks season (which gets longer and longer every year). Why would you risk the safety of your child?

StudentMumArghh · 04/11/2017 09:21

IMO - It is a controlled risk like many things toddlers/children do and it's up to individual parents to decide what their child does. They know how sensible/independent their children are and how likely they are to listen/allow help.

I don't see the problem with a well behaved toddler who has no problem allowing a parent to hold their hand having a sparkler. It's a controlled risk like so many other things. You shouldn't wrap children in cotton wool.

The minority of parents will give their Dc's a sparkler willy nilly to keep them quiet, that I don't agree with.

Dobbyandme · 04/11/2017 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coconuttella · 04/11/2017 09:23

.... the danger being children going to buckets with sparklers, then turning round to go back whilst another child is walking towards them and the bucket with an extinguished sparkler with arm outstretched at eye height

Luckily no one was injured.... The point being that even if your much older and sensible 8-9 yo child who can be trusted to follow instructions, there are dangers with sparklers. If you are going to use them, you must really think through the risks.

LaurieMarlow · 04/11/2017 09:29

Gobsmacked by this thread. Can't believe how laissez faire people are with toddlers.

No way before five. Then very carefully supervised. There's lots of time for them to enjoy sparkles without risking it with pre schoolers.

MsHarry · 04/11/2017 09:55

Most people are saying they would put their gloved hand over the gloved hand of the toddler the whole time and take safety precautions regarding the other hand and a bucket of water. That's not negligent. Calm down people! Risk are everywhere.

Nanny0gg · 04/11/2017 10:11

Risk are everywhere.

And you do what you can to minimize them. Not go out of your way to provide a completely unnecessary, potentially life-altering one.

It does not depend on the child when you are talking about toddlers. They are all unpredictable at some point. This should not be the point that you find that out.

Sirzy · 04/11/2017 10:23

I asked earlier in the thread but strangely no response - those who think toddlers are fine with sparklers would you let them play with matches or a lighter?

CaptainBrickbeard · 04/11/2017 10:24

If you are holding the sparkler hand and holding down the other hand, are you or the toddler really enjoying it anyway? Why not just give them a glow stick which is just as fun for nothing like the risk? It's bizarre. But my toddler is nuts, so arming him with fire wouldn't be an option anyway. I wouldn't give a calmer toddler one either though; I don't see the point. Whilst I love sparklers myself, Bonfire Night has plenty of magic without them!

NoWittyNamesAvailable · 04/11/2017 10:41

I gave my 2 year old a sparkler last year. I bought dome chunky carrots and pushed the sparkler into it. It gave extra length and he had to hold it with 2 hands. I also had hold of it and made sure we were a safe distance from his older cousins. As soon as it went out it was put straight into a bucket of water and the bucket removed so no children could take them back out. Would i leave him unsupervised with a sparkler, not for even one second.

Dobbyandme · 04/11/2017 11:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MsHarry · 04/11/2017 12:37

sirzy I wouldn't let a toddler 'play' with either but I have let my children light a candle with my hand over theirs on the matchbox and match. Hey, they are still alive at 14 and 17 and are sensible young people. Amazing!

Louiselouie0890 · 04/11/2017 12:41

I hold it with them

CaptainBrickbeard · 04/11/2017 13:47

No, Dobby, a few people mentioned that method and it just didn't sound much like fun!

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