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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To make a complaint

55 replies

Iwannabelikeyouohh · 21/09/2021 12:48

My son (20 months) did some baking at nursery yesterday.

They made buns. They sent me a picture of my son taking part and I noticed they were putting whole cherries on top of the buns.

I’m feeling really anxious about this and the obvious choking hazard.
I know once cooked it’s not an issue, but what if one of the toddlers had tried to eat one of the whole cherries..!!!

I do suffer with anxiety and I don’t know If I’m being really over the top on this.

From the photos it looked like a member of staff was with the child whilst they placed the cherries on one at a time.

I just don’t know if the nursery realise this could be dangerous, and if I should raise this awareness to them.

OP posts:

Gorl · 21/09/2021 13:35

I don’t think you need to make a complaint but definitely fine to raise it in a polite way. Cherries are a choking hazard and it’s an easy issue for them to resolve.

Bluntness100 · 21/09/2021 13:36

I think you have anxiety here, is this a stand alone incident where you’ve reacted like this or is there a back story of anxious behaviour?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/09/2021 13:36

I think that the point @Dartfordwarblerautumn was making about stones is that they are taken out of the cherries before they are glaceed (not sure if that is a word), so the glace cherry will deform when swallowed, whereas a cherry with its stone in won't deform, and will therefore be more of a choking hazard, @Iwannabelikeyouohh.

LaBellina · 21/09/2021 13:37

Putting in a complaint is a bit of an overstretch in my opinion but I definitely would mention this. Even if it’s just for my own peace of mind.

Wallabyone · 21/09/2021 13:38

I don't think they are a massive choking hazard because they are so soft. They were probably making them to accompany the 'five currant buns' shop and were showing them what they are.

Our nursery sent out an email last year as a reminder about choking hazards and to tell us that all the staff are first trained etc. They mentioned lots of food, but not apples, so I dropped the owner a quick email saying 'I'm sure you absolutely know this, but some staff may not....'
I didn't complain at all, just made myself feel better as I know they give apples sometimes as snacks.

thingymaboob · 21/09/2021 13:39

I would speak to them. I'm a paramedic and have spoken to my child's nursery about the use of mini eggs at Easter

Wallabyone · 21/09/2021 13:39

*song not shop

Cakeofdoom · 21/09/2021 13:47

I think you are absolutely right to raise a concern, a child could easily choke on a glace cherry, or any throat sized round food.

I'm a grandmother but my children and grandchildren choking has always been one of my nightmares and I don't think any concern is misplaced in this instance.

No issues with the baking but staff should have quartered the cherries.

HTPri · 21/09/2021 13:52

This is absolutely you’re anxiety and I wouldn’t be raising a concern at all. Nurseries of full of things that without supervision could be a choking hazard and we risk assess continuously around this. There are counters, cubes, lots of small resources for fine motor and children and staff are very used to these risks. A call from a parent in these circumstances would lead to us spending time reassuring the parent but is unlikely to change our decision especially when all staff are first aid and choking hazard trained.

Viviennemary · 21/09/2021 13:56

I agree with you. Putting whole cherries on top of scones? Who does that. But if you mean glace cherries which are usually halved they should be fine.

Starlightstarbright1 · 21/09/2021 13:59

@thingymaboob

I would speak to them. I'm a paramedic and have spoken to my child's nursery about the use of mini eggs at Easter

Mini eggs are a different matter. People don't seem as switched on to how dangerous they are

As a childminder i have recieved a similar message. I was well aware of the chocking hazard. Mum had severe anxiety.

It was a model we made from vegetables. Mum asked to make sure tomatoes were cut in half. I sent her a picture straight back of her dc eating his share, the tomatoes were in 1/4..

NigellaSeed · 21/09/2021 14:11

I don't think you're overeacting, we take necessary risks everyday, we just have to. But is decorating a cake with a known risk really worth a potential tragedy? I'd not complain but I'd remind them

Rainbowsandstorms · 21/09/2021 14:18

I completely agree with you. I’d just flag that you were concerned and see what they say. I’d keep it simple, no need to make a complaint, just discuss it at pick up. As much as nurseries are usually on the ball they sometimes miss things. I know a friend of mine had the same conversation re mini eggs and the nursery hadn’t considered it and welcomed the feedback.

Seeline · 21/09/2021 14:26

Glace cherries are fine - soft and de-stoned.

Holskey · 21/09/2021 14:31

Personally, I would literally buy some of the cherries and give them a feel. If I still felt they were a choking hazard, I absolutely would send an email saying I didn't want my child to handle them or anything like them. I'd probably be embarrassed to do so too, but I'd rather that discomfort than the anxiety or potential tragedy of a choking incident.

Also, I hate it when people halve grapes. They need to be quartered.

pastabest · 21/09/2021 14:38

Glacé cherries are no more a choking hazard than any non round non solid food. They are soft and although still a roundish shape they aren't solid due to having the stone removed. They quickly fall apart in the mouth.

Grapes/mini eggs etc are a huge risk because of the shape and solidness of them. They are a perfect shape to block the airways and difficult to shift if they do. A glacé cherry going the wrong way would probably be coughed back up in pieces.

I'm very conscious of choking risks, someone we know (adult) died from choking but a glacé cherry would be fairly low on the 'risky foods' list and wouldn't concern me.

trumpisagit · 21/09/2021 15:12

This is a non issue. Your child was not at risk of harm.

The more people complain unnecessarily the less likely children will get opportunities to cook, messy play etc.

MsTSwift · 21/09/2021 15:18

Where does it end? You will drive yourself mad thinking like this. Roads? Ceilings collapsing? Falling down stairs?

BlueberrySugar · 21/09/2021 15:20

I would speak to them too.

It is a choking hazard.

pastabest · 21/09/2021 17:26

@BlueberrySugar

I would speak to them too.

It is a choking hazard.

Why is it a choking hazard any more than say... a cube of cheese?

Bluntness100 · 21/09/2021 17:35

Really shocked a paramedic would equate a hard mini egg to a soft glacé cherry with no stone, placed on a cake with adult supervision.

Original poster

Iwannabelikeyouohh · 21/09/2021 17:42

@pastabest

A cube of cheese is a choking hazard!

OP posts:

pastabest · 21/09/2021 18:38

[quote Iwannabelikeyouohh]@pastabest

A cube of cheese is a choking hazard![/quote]
Every mouthful of food is a choking hazard by that reasoning surely?

Where do you stop?

lifehappened · 21/09/2021 18:38

I would let my 3 year old do this as I would be watching him

Original poster

Iwannabelikeyouohh · 21/09/2021 19:02

@pastabest

A hard cube of cheese shouldn’t be offered, once modified, it’s safer to offer.

Certain foods are safer when modified!

OP posts:

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