To think hot drinks should be baned from toddler groups?

[cah1]

I am sick to death of parents just leaving them in toddlers reach! It really scares me!

Just noticed how old the thread is but I stand by my point - I think that toddler groups should be as safe as possible for toddlers - the mums aren't watching the toddlers all the time they are often socialising themselves.

I remember this thread the first time around!

Why go back 2 years into the archives?

Dunno why we've resurrected a 2 year old thread but I'm very much in the minority here. I HATE there being hot drinks at any baby/toddler group - I don't go to them if there are as I can't relax. I think one of the groups I went to a few times had a 'hot drinks in the kitchen' and 'no children in the kitchen' rule; my toddler was uber clingy so I went without. One of those things.

I used to know someone who worked in a burns unit. He treated burnt children, including many who were scalded by hot drinks.

He said they all had good, sensible, conscientious parents who were mortified that their child had got near the cup (usually a single moment's inattention), and who were often going through very dark places when they realised their ordinary action had scarred their child for life.

And yes, he did ban hot drinks in his own house until his youngest was five-ish.

Yes, he's an extreme because he'd seen so much of the consequences.

But it is worth stopping to think about those consequences.

YANBU. You've seen the danger - multiplied by the number of unattended cups (despite reminders) and the melee of children.

I still think that mothers have to be responsible-they are adults and always coped in the past. It is pathetic to say' I can't watch my toddler and my drink so ban them!! Someone has to tell me I can't have one because I'm not responsible.'

In the days that I went, I most definitely wanted a hot drink and we were sensible enough to know it was a danger!

All you have to do is put it to the majority-they can easily ban it-but I doubt whether they will want to-they will expect you to look after your own DC!

It's not just about watching your own drink though. I would make sure my drink was somewhere safe or in my hand. It's other people's drinks that are the problem - as people have said especially first time mums with immobile babies who just don't think. Yes people have survived but kids have been burned - needlessly in my opinion. Are parents really that addicted to caffeine that they can't go a couple of hours without a tea/coffee?
I would much rather go to a group where I can chat to other mums rather than having to shadow my child around the room to stop them from getting burned.

I think it is pathetic to say -we can't watch our toddlers and our drinks- so a higher authority needs to ban them. How about a big notice 'hot drinks scald-please keep your drink away from DCs'? Health and Safety gone mad.
(people used to just use common sense)

I've been taking children to various different toddler groups for over eight years. All served hot drinks. There have never been any accidents where a child has been scalded. I think the risk is small.

I think yabu - as a parent you try and protect your child but thats your job - and you cant do it by legislating every danger away - apart from anything else taken to extremes what does that teach your child - or not teach them perhaps...

burn injuries are awful but so is every type of injury esp those preventable - but accidents happen

I'm not sure if this has been said, but sure start centres has banned consumption of hot drinks in their premises, where toddlers and babies are concerned.

However private toddler groups (like the one I run) dont, however we do have set rules where drinking cups are kept on the kitchen bench away from the children.

I'm sure that all private toddler groups can make their own rules. I would avoid ones that treat adults like 2 yr olds and think they are so irresponsible they can't be trusted.

'And yes, he did ban hot drinks in his own house until his youngest was five-ish.'

He was in a burns unit so he saw the tiny proportion of toddlers who'd been burned by hot drinks. You can't extrapolate from this any more than you can that all cars should be banned because they are the biggest killer of children.

It isn't about saying adults are 2 year olds that can't be trusted. It's about saying that accidents happen, so let's do what we can to minimise the risk in a way that doesn't actually deprive anyone of anything. The longest toddler groups go on for is a couple of hours - no-one 'needs' a hot drink in that time.

"I'm sure that all private toddler groups can make their own rules. I would avoid ones that treat adults like 2 yr olds and think they are so irresponsible they can't be trusted."

Unless they'd be a key holder with all legal documentation in there names, where they are then not sued, or criminally prosecuted by burning/scalding a child in your premises, then feel free to to use the door!.

'And yes, he did ban hot drinks in his own house until his youngest was five-ish.'

"He was in a burns unit so he saw the tiny proportion of toddlers who'd been burned by hot drinks. You can't extrapolate from this any more than you can that all cars should be banned because they are the biggest killer of children."

Abr1de, sorry that is untrue, in 2010 67% of burns were caused by hot beverages in children and adults, when ds2 when in the specialist burns unit for 4 months, at least 6-7 children A WEEK where seen by the staff while we we're staying there. Its not a small percentage at all.

I agree, slavewife. Another major cause of accidents in babies and younger toddlers are those walker things. Babies either falling down eg steps, or grabbing things they couldn't ordinarily reach like hot drinks. No-one would suggest it's okay to have those in toddler groups held in rooms with steps as long as people watch their own kids. I would hope anyway.

Most DCs in a burns unit will have been scalded in their own homes.
I scalded myself with black coffee when I was careless at 33yrs old(an adult only gathering)-do I surmise I don't have hot drinks?
In all my years of toddler groups no DC was every scalded-(probably because they had responsible parents).
I have no doubt this goes on to 8yr olds shouldn't boil a kettle........

Many a toddler group is held in a hall with steps leading to a stage. You have to watch your DC.

Well we have baby walkers, however we dont have any reachable worktops (all locked away behind the safety gated kitchen) and no stair wells, as it was built for easy assess/disabled facilities etc... Only some parents use them, some dont.

No, but at 33 you are able to be responsible for yourself. Babies and toddlers aren't. At home, you decide what risks to take. Baby and toddler groups have to abide by health and safety guidelines (whether the people running them agree with them or not), and work with a 'what if' approach (or proactive risk management as it's known).

I don't go to groups where hot drinks are served as I can't relax. I do go to cafes and things with my children but am uber cautious about using high chairs, no running around and actually often don't have hot drinks and certainly didn't when I was bfing lots or when both of mine were very small and at the grabbing everything stage because I just don't think it's worth the risk.

Though I don't think that means that I'm treating myself like a 2 year old.

Youre own home, is VERY much different to a toddler group business with compulsory, liability insurance/risk management/assessments/ accident books/ fire safety, etc... which as the leader of the group, you are fully responsible for, Before I took over there was a child who went down a slide, bumped into a mum holding a cuppa and scalded two children. The owner was personally sued, and had to pay compensation to the toddlers and also the mothers for there distress.

So It may not happen to you, however accidents are not forceable, and are not a definite uncertain in a group full of exploring children and busy mums and leaders, accidents do happen and they will continue to do so. Its a toddler group leader to risk assess, put those assessment in practice, not only for the benefit of themselves, but for the safety of the whole group.

To a mum who visits a toddler group also, its a very fun and nice place to do fun activities and also learn new things,(as it was for me before talking over) to a leader its very much about organised controlled activities, making sure everyone is happy, no one is at risk, unbeknown to the parents and toddlers, because if we dont, its us who have opened ourselves up to a whole can of worms, not the parents, hence why rules are in place and are religiously stuck to in my premises, I have a massive waiting list for my group, so I must be doing something correct.

Add trips out to all that and double your stress levels, and insurance bills etc...

Yabvu ban everything else for that matter so that we live in a cotton wool world. Ban hot drinks at home too as these accidents can happen at home too