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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DS is too young for chewy/boiled sweets??

26 replies

Ethelfleda · 13/11/2020 09:40

DS turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and came home from nursery with a bag of chewy and boiled sweets. They had handed them all out to the kids at pre-school. DS was so excited about opening and eating them that we had a battle - had to ‘swap’ them for chocolate buttons instead.

AIBU in thinking sweets are a choking hazard to small children and that he is too young to be given any??

OP posts:
BrumBoo · 13/11/2020 09:47

I don't allow my 2 year old anything chewier than Haribo, no lollipops or Refresher type sweets. I'm only now letting my 5 year old have Mini Egg type chocolates. I could just be an extra nervous parent though, read too many horror stories about kids choking. Plus I really dont like super sugary sweets in general, especially for toddlers.

Original poster
Ethelfleda · 13/11/2020 09:49

@BrumBoo

I don't allow my 2 year old anything chewier than Haribo, no lollipops or Refresher type sweets. I'm only now letting my 5 year old have Mini Egg type chocolates. I could just be an extra nervous parent though, read too many horror stories about kids choking. Plus I really dont like super sugary sweets in general, especially for toddlers.
Agree - didn’t even mention the fact they’re terrible for teeth! I’m not adverse to treats - the odd biscuit, cake, chocolate is absolutely fine. He doesn’t drink sugary drinks and we obviously brush his teeth... just hate the idea of him having sweets.
OP posts:
OverThinkingUnderDoing · 13/11/2020 09:50

I think it depends what they are - properly hard sweets like mint humbugs, barley sugars etc. definitely not suitable. Haribo Starmix - not great obviously but i think it’s fairly common for kids of that age to have them.

44PumpLane · 13/11/2020 09:56

It depends what they are, proper hard boiled sweets are a definite no and my two are nearly 4.

Haribo I wouldn't have let them have until 3 as they were comfortable eaters not known to choke or gag. I watch them while they eat them though.

A lollipop is the same, I wouldn't let them have a chuppa chup but I would let them have one of those that are the compacted powdery lollies (no idea what they are called but they are so good) and again would watch them. I'm undecided on a drumstick lolly purely from the stickiness perspective.

AtrociousCircumstance · 13/11/2020 09:57

YANBU. That’s irresponsible of the nursery.

firesong · 13/11/2020 10:12

Boiled sweets are a no for my son who is 3.5. He can have chewy ones but I keep an eye on him and tell him just one at a time, chew it well etc.

firesong · 13/11/2020 10:14

I don't even like my older child (9) eating boiled sweets, I know it sounds OTT but she choked in front of me twice. Once on a sandwich and I wouldn't have known had I not happened to have turned around.

Original poster
Ethelfleda · 13/11/2020 14:30

Glad it’s not just me.
There was a mixture - hard boiled sweet type lollipop (so on a stick but if it came off?!)
Really chewy refreshers
There was hair on in there but we haven’t let him eat haribo yet.
Should I say something to the nursery??

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/11/2020 14:36

Where these birthday sweets from another child, I from the actual nursery?

With birth sweets, the 'ettiquette' is that they are sent home so the parents can decide when they can be eaten. The nursery/school isn't really involved, more a postman sort of thing.

If it can from the nursery itself, Talkin to them is more justified.

I've never be fond of lollipops for the choking aspect. My are 7&9 now and stil only allowed them I sitting down. Never in the car. Never walking around.

ellenpartridge · 13/11/2020 14:43

I have a 3 year old and wouldn't be happy with this

copperoliver · 13/11/2020 22:50

I agree with you, way too young. My cousin choked on a boiled sweet at that age, they had to call an ambulance, thank god he was okay. X

VestaTilley · 13/11/2020 22:52

YANBU. Madness that a nursery is giving out sweets at all- all that sugar.

Veryverycalmnow · 13/11/2020 22:57

YANBU. That's not really appropriate for a nursery to be sending home. Hope you managed to distract with something else while you threw them in bin

BluSpider · 13/11/2020 23:01

I would remove these sweets. People are stupid. Better safe than sorry.

june2007 · 13/11/2020 23:03

Boiled sweets are a no at 3 but chewy sweets I think the occasional one is ok, but make sure they have around you. I never propperly cholked on sweets but I have on an apple and I bet you let your three year old eat apples.

Mischance · 13/11/2020 23:07

If they were handed out by the nursery themselves I would be worried about my child's care there frankly. Goodness knows what else they are coming up with as choking hazards, both to be eaten and toys. It shows a scary degree of ignorance.

Hotchocolatesforeveryone · 13/11/2020 23:12

I don't let any of mines have boiled sweets OP, I also forbid mini eggs/un-cut grapes or hard round lollies. I remember picking my youngest up from nursery and my oldest daughter who was around 7 at the time went through a little christmas party bag the nursery had given out and shouted over to me 'mum this is full of choking hazzards' 🤣🤣 I'm just terrified of any of my kids choking on something that could become lodged in their throats. I cut their grapes into quarters Blush but its better to be safe than sorry.

grassisjeweled · 13/11/2020 23:13

Why is the nursery handing those out at all?

Confused
Skysblue · 13/11/2020 23:38

The preschool gave them out?! Wow round here they all ban sweets.

Yes too young I would have been very pissed off.

Original poster
Ethelfleda · 14/11/2020 16:58

@june2007

Boiled sweets are a no at 3 but chewy sweets I think the occasional one is ok, but make sure they have around you. I never propperly cholked on sweets but I have on an apple and I bet you let your three year old eat apples.
I do let him eat apple - but my understanding is, children can choke on anything... but certain foods can get stuck in their windpipe and be much harder to dislodge. So a piece of half chewed apple is far easier to get out than a whole grape or a hard boiled sweet.

He was upset when we said he couldn’t have them - we had to ‘replace’ with some chocolate buttons and then he was ok.

Thanks for the replies though, good to know I’m not being OTT!

OP posts:
MrsSpringfield · 14/11/2020 17:04

Boiled sweets = no.
Small chewy sweets like those little jelly tots = ok as an occasional treat.

Pickledpenguin · 14/11/2020 17:05

I don't allow my 10 year old a hard boiled sweet unless I am in the same room as him... admittedly he is my one and only and I am a bit of a worrier but at 3 he didnt even know what a sweet was Halloween Blush

goose1964 · 14/11/2020 17:05

I have my DGS a boiled sweet, he was about 3 1/2 at the time. He's a good water and had a clean weaning. He sat down as instructed and I promptly heard crunching and finished granny. I don't think he's impressed as the next time had a sweet he wanted a jelly baby.

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 14/11/2020 17:15

I don't allow my 4 year old to have these sweets. Boiled sweets are one of the top 5 most common choking hazards in under 5s. Very silly of nursery to give them out.

Generalblah · 14/11/2020 19:44

@BrumBoo

I don't allow my 2 year old anything chewier than Haribo, no lollipops or Refresher type sweets. I'm only now letting my 5 year old have Mini Egg type chocolates. I could just be an extra nervous parent though, read too many horror stories about kids choking. Plus I really dont like super sugary sweets in general, especially for toddlers.
I can see that you have really thought about what is appropriate with the shape of Mini Eggs but could I kindly suggest rethinking the Haribo? I only say this as a nurse explained that Haribo can be a huge choking hazard as they can lodge in the throat and due to their consistency they can become stuck and hard to dislodge should you need to. Almost like they mould into shape blocking the airway.