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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Toddler given marshmallows at nursery

194 replies

ginonthebus · 15/12/2023 23:21

DS (18 months) has returned from nursery this evening with a cake he's 'made'. Was slightly concerned to see that it's decorated with a full size marshmallow on top. His nursery are usually brilliant with safety etc, but aren't these a major choking hazard? Can't tell if I'm being a bit PFB about this or if it's worth saying something to nursery. DH thinks we'll be 'those parents' if we do...

OP posts:
LeaveBritneyAlone · 16/12/2023 00:04

Aren’t those monstrosities they bring home for the adults to eat not the children? Mind you Mine always went in the bin. I don’t want a gross badly constructed biscuit infused with bogies and the finger germs of other people’s babies.

Zippedydoodahday · 16/12/2023 00:09

I'd point them towards this government guidance which specifically states young children should not be given marshmallows.

I know.someone whose 15 month old choked to death on the mini marshmallows on a babychino. Horrific.

Food safety - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK

https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/safeguarding-and-welfare/food-safety#:~:text=do%20not%20give%20children%20marshmallows,not%20give%20children%20hard%20sweets

HMW1906 · 16/12/2023 00:17

They made it at nursery under supervision but they didn’t give them to eat there. Either take it off and bin it or cut it into small pieces for him.

GrazingSheep · 16/12/2023 00:19

@Toottooot
Are you posting on the wrong thread?

Lifeinlists · 16/12/2023 00:21

Rocknrolla21 · 16/12/2023 00:02

I’ve not even heard of this being a hazard before. A bit of research tells me food like various fruit/veg/nuts and in particular hotdogs are far more ‘dangerous’. In the uk an average of 1 child dies a month from choking, not enough to be so paranoid about a marshmallow on a cake. It’s statistically more likely for a child to drown in a swimming pool with their parents actually present than choking on anything at all, let alone specifically a marshmallow. Do you take your child swimming?

It's not paranoid and so few children in the uk die from eating marshmallows because enough parents know they're a choking hazard so don't give them in the first place.

They swell when mixed with saliva inside the mouth and throat and a small child can't deal with the result.

Toottooot · 16/12/2023 00:25

GrazingSheep · 16/12/2023 00:19

@Toottooot
Are you posting on the wrong thread?

Nope

LilyLemonade · 16/12/2023 00:26

Absolutely tell the nursery.

The posters who are saying it's your choice whether to let him eat it or not are missing the point. The nursery clearly are unaware that it is a hazard or they wouldn't be making cakes with it. Other parents might not know.

I know someone whose child choked to death. Not on a marshmallow as it happens but I wouldn't take any chances at all with a known choking hazard.

GrazingSheep · 16/12/2023 00:29

@Toottooot
So what’s so Wooptie fucking ping hun 🤦🏻‍♀️ about a choking hazard for a toddler?

Toottooot · 16/12/2023 00:30

This reply has been deleted

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GrazingSheep · 16/12/2023 00:31

🙄

Showmethesunny · 16/12/2023 00:35

A 6 year old recently choked to death on a marshmallow in a pub. They’re dangerous and nursery shouldn’t provide them

MyopicBunny · 16/12/2023 00:36

It actually scares me how many things little kids can choke on. Grapes is the obvious one but also things like Cadbury mini eggs - a girl as old as about 5 died from this. My daughter's half brother nearly choked on a haribo when he was about 3. So a full sized marshmallow, yeah definitely dangerous.

MadamVastra · 16/12/2023 00:39

This reply has been deleted

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what?

Toottooot · 16/12/2023 00:48

MadamVastra · 16/12/2023 00:39

what?

Awa bile yer heid min - there I’ve said it twice. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MadamVastra · 16/12/2023 00:49

I've google translated and it's still a no

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 16/12/2023 00:51

MadamVastra · Today 00:39

what?

It means - F off

Lucyintheskywithadiamond · 16/12/2023 00:58

Just take the marshmallows off of the cake, it is that difficult?

TommyNever · 16/12/2023 01:03

There was a case around here a few years ago where a young girl choked to death on a marshmallow. Her parents tried everything they could to dislodge it, while waiting for the ambulance which arrived far too late.

Those saying "just take it off" are missing the point - the nursery should not be giving marshmallows to toddlers and yes, the parents should point that out to those in charge.

WiddlinDiddlin · 16/12/2023 03:59

This reply has been deleted

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Do you comment anything other than this, hun? (Btw the phrase is 'whoop-de-doo'.)

How extremely useful of you.

OP - mention it by all means but I suspect the idea was you supervise child eating it, and decide if you want to cut it up or teach them to take bites etc. I wouldn't go nuts though, unless it turns out they were actually feeding the kids marshmallows and letting them eat them unsupervised or not closely supervised.

Porridgeislife · 16/12/2023 04:10

I’m pretty relaxed about gagging/choking when feeding my toddler but marshmallows and popcorn are a very hard no for me. They are really dangerous.

I wouldn’t be happy if nursery used marshmallows in a cooking class as it only takes one crafty toddler for it all to go wrong.

Doingmybest12 · 16/12/2023 04:10

It really doesn't make sense for children to make a cake to bring home that is Christmas themed which they can't eat as it is an obvious choking hazard. There are lots of other things they could make so there is no need.

honeysuckleweeks · 16/12/2023 04:40

And whole nuts! Pls don't give them to toddlers.

SweetFemaleAttitude · 16/12/2023 05:10

With a cake he's 'made'

What absolute cunts. Baking with your child and sending him home with something you can decide whether he eats or not.

🙄

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