To let DS blow out his birthday cake candles this weekend ?

[Ishouldtryabiteachdayer]

So having both lots of Grandparents for a birthday tea in the garden. My Dad says he's not eating the cake I'm decorating if DS blows on it. He says as he "might catch the virus." Would I be unreasonable to let DS blow out his birthday candles?

I mean eating birthday cake is optional, I could provide other shop bought cakes ? Seems sad not to let him,,but it is a bit gross when you think about it these days. BTW DS is turning 5.

Eek my 9yo blew out his candle a couple of weeks ago and grandparents had a slice... it never entered our heads until this thread! Having said that, he doesn't spit on the cake... he blows the number candle out - I know obviously it's still blowing germs from in your mouth, but it's not actual spit! I've never known anyone spitting on cakes either just a gentle blow of a candle.

Instead of blowing the candles what about knocking them off with a toilet brush?

@Yaottie

Put clingfilm over the cake then put the candles in

This is what I was going to suggest.

My mum made me a cake for my birthday for us all to have in the garden.

She also brought with her half a potato covered in foil, with the candles stuck in, so I could still have candles without blowing in the cake, which I thought was inspired. I might even make it a regular thing

Lighting the candles outdoors was a whole other issue mind....

@draughtycatflap

Only if the loo brush has been cleaned in the dishwasher first

We have always had a “birthday train” which has a candle space in each carriage. This is another idea. Or have a few cupcakes for people who prefer it!

Personally I think your child should have candles to blow out in some form.

YABU. Cut the cake and stick candles in your son's piece for him to blow out.

We had two cakes last week, one for our household and one for the visiting relatives. Candles went on the household cake.

I can't believe how many make or buy an extra cake specifically to waste it, that's shocking. The potato is the answer

Speaking as a grandparent who has been locked up since March, I don't see why you are so unempathic to his grandad's anxiety.

Many of us have made massive sacrifices and tried to follow all the rules. I still can't kiss my grandchildren, maintaining social distancing outside. Increasingly covid 19 is being thought to be airborne, and e.g. singing or speaking loudly can spread it. Possibly the grandad has paid more attention to the studies than you have

Some great examples here of how to maintain the fun, without causing harm to your vulnerable family members.

Cut a slice of the cake for your son and put a candle on that

Yanbu - let him blow out the candles! The party is for the child so what he wants should come first. It's not an occasion especially for pleasing others.

Provide a little shop bought cake for people to eat if they're not comfortable eating the candles cake.

Many many years ago my playschool had an old battered biscuit tin with holes drilled in for candles. The birthday girl or boy could blow the candles out and then the tin was opened and we all got a biscuit!
I’ve always thought that was a good idea-maybe it will make a comeback!

Obviously no one is being unreasonable not to want cake that has blown all over by someone! As everyone else said, sing happy birthday/candle on a separate cupcake or cake!

I think there is some huge craziness about this on here. Children have been blowing out the candles for generations. It’s an important ritual that they understand from a really early age. If your dad doesn’t want the main cake, give him a cupcake.

I’d say the cake is not going to be the main risk. If he’s inside with you, potentially playing with the child etc. If he’s purely socially distancing outside then fine but most people I know have broken the rules with grandparents.

I agree it’s a ritual that children like. I’d keep it and sort out something else for GP. A constant when other things have changed for them.

Also agree about rest of visit, birthday hug etc (maybe he’ll not do it)

He can blow out candles without blowing on the cake though. Loads of good solutions here.

I would definitely let him blow the candles out as normal then have a few cupcakes if people don’t want to eat the cake. Is the cake going to be covered in fondant icing? Would an option be to serve the cake with the top layer of icing removed. Most people don’t eat all the icing anyway.

Make a seperate cup cake with the candles if it Bothers you that much

I made a brownie for my friend's teenager. Didn't want to put candles on it so I got a coloured pot filled with earth and painted it with Happy 15th Birthday Ds 11th July 2020.. I put sparklers and candles in it.Everyone sang Happy Birthday whilst the sparklers were alight and then he blew his candles out. Mum kept the pot.

I used to work where we had adults with an ld, we never put candles on a cake, using cupcakes to spell out Happy birthday with a larger one for the birthday person and a candle on. If you're making a sponge cake cut the middle out to make a separate cake, leaving a ring cake.

The grandad is being UR. If he wants a different cake he can bring it himself. It wouldn't cross my dad's mind to tell his 5yo grandchild not to blow out candles on their own birthday cake and if he did try to suggest it there's no way I would entertain it.

I can't believe the amount of people who are uptight about some air being exhaled near a piece of cake that they will digest. Given the journey of the cake to the table, plus your journey to the table involving many, many interactions with bacteria of all sorts, I really couldn't get worked up about someone exhaling near my food.

A very small toddler drooling on it isn't ideal but even that doesn't bother me particularly.

MN is often a bit weird about food though. I've read numerous threads about kindly neighbours delivering home food at times of need and MN is disgusted by the prospect of eating food made in someone else's kitchen.

I’d let him blow out his candles.

@Felifox my mum was a carer in a home for the elderly. They had strict codes of practice around blowing out candles. No one wanted an outbreak of norovirus or flu like illnesses.
Its utterly minging to blow out candles but I appreciate its 'an important ritual' therefore it can easily be mitigated by blowing over a bloody muffin or brownie. Kids of five should be well aware of germs and spreading illness and I'm sure that most will completely understand that we don't spray saliva on food that is to be eaten by others.

All my husband’s family clap the candles out rather than blow on them. Thought it was weird when I first saw it, as well as them sneezing into their elbows which they’ve done for years. Who’s the sensible one?

Never occurred to me about people finding candle blowing out revolting.

I wouldn't do anything different tbh.

It's a kid's bday cake.

Let him blow the candles out.

Adults eat cake/don't eat cake/cut the icing off as they wish.

this is used here in Germany

Put the candles on a plate and blow out outside