Would you let a 2 year old clean a lawnmower?

[Isthistoooverprotective]

My husband just said casually we was going to get the 2 year old to help him brush off the lawnmower before it goes in the car. I don't want her to think that a lawnmower is something she can go near, she's very curious and sticks her hands in everything. I think it's better for her to stay away from it completely until she's older and has some sense, so said I didn't want her near it. Husband thinks I'm being overprotective. I don't mind her learning about it when she's older but not at 2. Am I being mad?

100% agree with you! I (try) and keep the shed entirely off limits due to garden implements with blades and chemicals in there. Even if the mower is not plugged in the blade could be sharper than you realise. Total ban on kids being anywhere near the mower including keeping them indoors when I'm using it (very small garden and kids who have not yet developed any common sense)

Personally I think you’re being a bit OTT (not mad at all, just a difference of opinion!) but I suspect we live very different lives. My son, now 3, helps me and his dad wash off/work on all manner of farm machinery (tractors and the rest!) and I see it as a sensible thing to ensure he doesn’t see them as this exciting off limits things but as things to treat a certain way and act around a certain way as they can be dangerous etc etc. Not worded that overly well but I’m sure you get the drift! With all that being said, however, if it’s something you feel uncomfortable with and something you’d rather your daughter didn’t get involved in, it’s no hardship not to, imo. I can’t see why it would be difficult for your husband to respect that for the time being.

I don't think you're mad at all - my DH often says I too cautious with DD (I have tried to say "careful!" less often!).

But in this case, I think you might be being a bit too precious. If she's two, presumably someone is watching almost all of the time, so I can't see why it would matter. The lawnmower is only really a danger if it's plugged in, at which point I assume your daughter would be nowhere near it anyway? And I'm guessing it isn't lying around the house at other times.

I agree with the PP that with a curious child, it is much better to make things seem run of the mill, so they don't go investigating when your back is turned. Children don't develop common sense just by getting older, you have to help them and it will be many years before she is truly able to assess potential danger on her own. Let her help her dad, they'll have fun!

I wouldn't let a 2 yo near a lawn mover. No need to.

Depends on the type of lawnmower, I think. I assume it is normally locked away in a shed or garage?

If its unplugged, sure. The blades aren't that sharp just to touch, I've spun them by hand when cleaning or changing them and never cut myself. I remember brushing the grass off it as a child with a dustpan brush.

I'm on the fence with this one - if dad is clearly supervising and cleaning the parts that are more risky like the blades, then I don't see an issue with putting a brush in a child's hand and letting them brush the outside.

I’d have no issue with this as long as it wasn’t plugged in.

lawnmower blades are usually blunt.

It's easy to say she'll be okay because she's supervised, but it takes a second to make a mistake and it's a machine that doesn't provide any benefit to a baby, but does provide risks. If she thinks it's fun to touch the lawnmower with supervision, she'll think it's fun to touch it any time.

No. When she's being supervised - not a problem. When she sees it at some random moment in the future and thinks she'll put her hand in it because she's 'cleaned' it - maybe a problem. It may not be unplugged.

Small children act in the moment, not with caution. She'll understand a firm boundary, ie 'no touching',better than 'it's ok sometimes'.

I think this is my concern. I'm not worried about her cleaning it, she'll be supervised, I'm worried that it will introduce the idea that she can touch lawnmowers and we may not be around when she decides to do it again. I would rather have a firm 'no touch' boundary until she's old enough to understand the risks a lawnmower has.

Thanks everyone. The rain came on so it's a moot point now but we agreed to keep her away from the lawnmower until she's older.

Surely most people think that teaching children how to treat potentially dangerous machines (and animals) from a young age is one of the most important jobs of parenting..?
Learning practical tasks from a young age is how we grew up in the 80s and it was a lot more fun than the child focused shit forced on kids nowadays.

Why would you ever leave a plugged in lawnmower unattened if you have children?

I don't think so. I let my toddler help with the washing and cleaning, and try and make those learning experiences about safety too. I let him use the hairdyer (with supervision) and he knows that it can get hotter, but I will never ever allow him to touch my hairstraighteners, not even to pick them up out of the drawer cold.

but something like a lawnmower is too much of a risk. If there was ever a time where it was possible for it to go wrong, the outcome is far too bad for it to be worth the risk.