How bad are Bunchems?

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

I'm looking after my nieces tomorrow (2 and 4 yrs) and as a treat I bought them a sort of art/craft toy called Bunchems. It consists of coloured plastic balls that connect together to make different shapes or models or they can stick to a board to make a picture.

I thought it would be a fun toy, they love that sort of thing.

Feeling all pleased with what a great auntie I am I mentioned it to my neighbour. She recolied in horror, saying Bunchems are awful and told me children are getting them tangled in their hair.

A quick look on BuzzFeed revealed an article criticising the toy for this reason. I'm not sure if this is the media hyping up the problem or if this toy will be a nightmare?
They both have long hair

Would it be unreasonable to give them The Bunchems to play with? I thought they just stuck together like Velcro.
I don't want our fun day to turn into a hair disaster.

[BroomHandledMouser]

Please no!! Don’t do it!

[Nicknacky]

I’m another that had to cut hair to get the dammed things out. The more I tried to untangle them the more the got stuck.

Every time I see them in a shop I swear. If anyone in the future buys my kids them, they will go straight in the bin.

[GummyGoddess]

You're not a bad auntie, they would probably have been lots of fun! Perhaps some sort of salt dough activity would be fun, maybe making a bowl or ornament to keep?

[ParentInCharge]

DD (8) asked for them.
I'd heard the horror stories and said hell no. I'm so glad of social media because DD has the most beautiful soft, long hair and does not have the face shape to really carry off a short hair cut

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Thanks Gummy I might try to make playdough as I can't get back to the shops today.

Oh. My. God Broom. I thought that was a dead ferret for a minute.

[LadyPlasters]

Please....... Noooooooooooooooo! My DD8 cried her little eyes out whilst I'm trying to detangle them from her hair. Got most out but did have to cut some out
My sister then didn't believe they weren't THAT bad and made herself a crown of bunch'ems and popped it on her head....... yep, they got stuck too so I had to remove them from her hair

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

That's what I'm thinking Parent At least I've been warned. There ought to be more of a caution on the box. Eg "Don't buy this if you have hair".

[SpringerLink]

I have a very sensible 7 year old. I have also spent 2 hours getting these things out of her hair after a not-so-sensible moment when she put them in there. I would steer clear of these. They weren't even that fun.

[PeonyTruffle]

I threw a box of Bunchems away (when DS and DSS weren't looking )

Little bloody things got everywhere (the bunchems that is, not the kids)

[GummyGoddess]

Just don't let them eat the dough, lots of salt is toxic to small children apparently. I'm sure they'll have lots of fun tomorrow and won't want to leave!

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

I'm sorry for all these children having to have them cut out.

You did warn your sister though Lady and she only went and made herself a Bunchems Crown. Oh dear. That's just the sort of thing I'd do.

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

We've had Bunchems for about 2 years now. My daughter has wavy hair and she can comb one through her hair and they come straight out at end. I think it must only be a problem if they stick a whole handful into their hair.
Just make sure you sit and play with them and you will be absolutely fine.
I've let 2 year olds play with them and they've never tried to put them in their hair.

[Nicknacky]

I think it was three or four my daughter got in her hair, it wasn’t loads. I’ve no idea why or how she did it though.

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

I can give you a 2 minute, never fails playdoh recipe if you like!

[Dartsplayer]

Speaking from my experience, definitely keep them away from hair unless you want them to have a new hair cut!! They also get stuck in dolls hair which generally ends up with the doll going in the bin as we can't get it out!!

[AnyLondoner]

Fine, but shave the kids heads first

This. I had to cut my DDs hair

[Jjou]

My dd (age 10!) made a ball out of them, threw them up in the air and managed to catch the entire ball with the back of her waist-long hair. It took about 6 hours to get them all out. I went through an entire bottle of conditioner trying to loosen them enough to slide them out of her hair. They were a great toy up until that point...

[Laiste]

Sorry to hear about all the chopped hair but so grateful for the heads up. DD4(4) got some for Xmas and i’ve Put them away for a bored day. I think i’ll Keep them put away —forever— a while longer then!

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

I think most children would make a ball or a crown or something or put them on their head. That's what children do. Who invented this toy? It's ridiculous.

I wouldn't mind a 2 minute fail proof playdough recipe. Thanks for the offer.

I'm sounding like a naive idiot. I do have teenage children but the toy market has clearly moved on these days; to more hazardous toys that could lose you your hair.

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

I'm so sorry I've only just checked back, for next time...
1 cup plain flour (about 300ml in jug)
Half a cup salt
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
Food colouring
Mix all together in a pan over a low heat until it turns to playdoh. It will come away cleans from your pan.

[ExecutiveDiamondBossBabeHun]

Love them but... the first week we got them my daughters hair ended up exactly like that photo. It took over 2 hours to get them all out! The kids have never done that again

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

That sounds like Hell Diamond
I managed to avoid a 2 hour detangling session by hiding the Bunchems in the cupboard and doing some old fashioned painting and paddling pooling with DNs. Thank you for all the warnings!

Absolutely shattered after 9 hours with them. I'm such a lightweight
Doing it all again next week so thank you for the playdough recipe.

Are people complaining about these Bunchems? They need to be made illegal.

[Crunchymum]

Don't get the fuckers on your carpet.

Even my regularly cleaned and relatively new carpet meant they ended up covered in fluff and hair