Balloon dilemma

[springtime1234]

Hi, posting here for traffic as I need to make a quick decision. It's DD's 17th birthday tomorrow I want to buy her a balloon bouquet but the only ones available are Disney or 'sweet baby girl' I think DD would like this as I have always called her baby girl and she likes pastel colours/ florals. My question is do you think the sweet baby girl bouquet is suitable for a 17th birthday or is it too obviously new baby/baby shower?

My gut feeling is that it is too obvious, sorry. Will she care though? Only you know that.

Here's the bouquet

Thanks @TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe I don't think she would care but then you never know!

That’s too obvious

Definitely baby shower

I Like it. I wouldn't think it odd if I got that from my mum.

Why does it matter? If she’d like them and it’s an old pet name that would make her smile then they’re a great choice. They’re cute celebration balloons, not an epithet cast in stone!

I like it

You didn't ask about this but I thought you should be aware: helium is a finite natural resource and has far more important uses than balloons -- for example, helium is essential for MRI machines to work.

My thoughts are~: Don't contribute to the global depletion of helium, especially do something so frivolous and polluting (those balloons are destined for the bin within a day or two).

How come they are the only ones available? Just being nosy!

Agree with Suspiria. Novelty balloons are a dreadful idea and not an example to set to young people.

My DDs would have thought I had lost my mind if I gave them that bunch of balloons at 17. Balloons with helium are a bad thing at any time. Don't do it.

The design is probably fine but YABU to buy balloons at all since they are such an environmental disaster!

If you think she will like them, buy them

Even my 6yo DD would assume I’d gone raving bonkers if I gave her that for her bday.

To my mind it’s insanely babyish, sickly, infantilising & a bit odd. Plus also I couldn’t square it with the environmental impact of something so wasteful and non-recyclable.

But if you’re not bothered by the environmental thing and if your 17yo DD likes baby shower items, go for it.

You could always add a message to her card like, 'Wow, you're 17! Hooray! You'll always be my sweet baby girl :-) ' can be quite a reassuring message...

I'm going to echo the posters asking you to not buy balloons as they are bad for the environment. I can't believe people still buy them tbh.

YABU. They look crap and are dreadful for the environment. Why TF people still buy these things is beyond me. Far better to buy her a bouquet of flowers for so many reasons.

They are bad for the environment but not because of helium shortages.

Medical grade helium is totally different to the stuff they put in balloons.

I don’t mean it’s a different thing, just different stocks and grades. Helium balloons don’t affect the med supply.

Also apparently the shortage is over. physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.2.20200605a/full/

I'd suggest buy her something more gown up than balloons. Balloons are for kids, aside from environmental issues .

Flowers, perfume, make up, driving lesson/pay for theory test, meal out voucher to treat her friends when the restaurants /pubs open. gym membership voucher / hair salon voucher (ditto) .

[quote AmySosa]I don’t mean it’s a different thing, just different stocks and grades. Helium balloons don’t affect the med supply.

Also apparently the shortage is over. physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.6.2.20200605a/full/[/quote]
Then why does the article make it clear the supply issues are caused by the balloon industry?

"As demand for party balloons—which account for 10% or more of total helium use, according to market consultant Phil Kornbluth—disappeared in March, and as industrial demand slowed in concert with shelter-in-place orders, the global helium supply crunch of the past two years abruptly ended."

That's far too babyish and gallons are a nuisance for lots of reasons.

Flowers will be much better.

Ha, I didn’t read all the article, just about the end of the shortage.

Dh works directly with medical grade helium and he was the one who told me confidently it’s not the same stuff. Anyway, balloons are horrible plastic non biodegradable things and I hate them, just not for the helium reason.

"floating litter".....such a thoughtful gift.