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!

[FAQinglovely]

no point in me going to toddlers if I'm not going to have my coffee and company!

[Thunderduck]

Cah Don't post on AIBU if you're going to flounce when people disagree with you.

Why did MN remove the disclaimer? It was appropriate.

I'm sure that most MN have seen a photo of a scalded child before, or can imagine what it looks like, the link adds nothing to the debate.

Should we also ban toddlers from coffee shops btw?

[dietstartstomorrow]

Im a childminder - should I be banned from having a hot drink at home

[mummymimi]

Oh and can I add we need to be warning are little ones about hot drinks and other dangers otherwise the next generation will be a bunch of worried accident prone adults.

[cah1]

Well I am really surprised.

I go to toddler groups for my toddlers gain, not my own, my childs safety and that of others is more important to me than a tea or coffee.

Enjoy your chat and coffee

[Dammit]

I say we call it 'The Pub'.

[Thunderduck]

It's called AIBU? note the question mark. Now if the forum was called agree with me or else I'll flounce and tell you that you obviously don't care about children, you terrible example of motherhood you, then I could see your point.

[belgo]

I will thank you cah1.

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

cah1 : " go to toddler groups for my toddlers gain, not my own"

Can't it be both? I obviously wouldn't go to something that my ds doesn't enjoy, but I do think it's important that the parents are enjoying it too. I've made some good friends through toddler groups, and part of that comes about through the social aspect of the groups, which is certainly helped along by the tea and coffee.

I also don't see how you can keep your toddlers away from all hot drinks - as has been asked before, what about coffee shops? Or at home? Or going round to a friend's house? There are so many places where you would expect to have a cup of tea or whatever, do you avoid them all or stop drinking hot drinks until your dc have left home??

[Meglet]

YAB a bit R. Banning them is a bit strong, but to be honest I never drink hot drinks at toddler groups or meet ups for that reason. If I want a nice cup of tea I don't want to spend every moment trying to keep it out of reach of my, or anyone elses DC's. But I am a huge worrier .

[MmeLindt]

YABU

What do you do at home? Should I serve my guests tea and coffee in a sippy cup?

Accidents happen. We adults should be aware of the dangers and keep an eye on our hot drinks.

I would have stopped going if our group had stopped serving coffee. It is as much about the mums having a coffee and a natter as the DC "making" hedgehogs out of leaves. (ds would be bored of the craft activity within minutes so I would drink my coffee while painting Frosty the snowman for him)

[islandofsodor]

Most toddlers don't really gain from toddler groups as such as researchshows that toddlers don't actually interact or play properly with each other at that age.

Actually theugh the groups are very much for the benefit of the children in that it stops many of us mums from cracking up to be able to get out of the house once or twice a week.

I went from when dd was 3 months old. What could she have possibly gained from a group at that age.

[spicemonster]

Actually I do remember someone on here who had banned hot drinks from her home.

[BalloonSlayer]

I have a DS scarred by a hot drink.

For many years afterwards I was a terrible pain in the arse at toddler groups because I was so anxious.

Ideas I have observed in my panic:

Cups and saucers are maybe a good compromise? You don't get as much but a spill stays in the saucer.

Making sure tea and coffee is served at a fixed time, in one go, is always helpful. Then after a little while you can relax a bit, knowing that any mugs in reach are empty/cold. I had to scrape myself of the ceiling at the M&T group where scalding hot drinks were served the entire time when required, and I'd see mothers holding a full to the brim mug bending over their little ones.

Don't fill mugs right to the top (see above). Leave an inch at the top and the owner doesn't need to be as careful to avoid spilling.

Top each drink up with a bit of cold water. That means it has to be drunk quickly, not left around to cool, and although it would still scald, obviously it wouldn't be as bad.

Hope that helps.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

Cah1 I run 2 toddler groups, we serve coffee or tea at both, the groups are there for the parents especially when the babies are very little, being at home and isolated as a parent can be crippling to a new Mum (or Dad)

once the children are mobile, I agree that the socialisation of the children is good for them.

We would never ban hot drinks, we have snack time for the children when they are all sat down together and the hot drinks are served for the adults.

Each parent is responsible for their own child.
If you don't want your child to be at risk then that is your choice.

[belgo]

has she banned all boiling water as well? How does she cook potatoes etc?

[YohoAhoy]

It's a common sense thing isn't it?

Accidents can, and do, happen, but if we ban everything that involves even the slightest risk, where does that leave us?

Toddler group is in the dim & distant past for me, but I do remember if someone left a cup within toddler reach, someone would just move it out of harm's way. No hassle.

And generally I found that although the mums chatted while the toddlers played, everyone was always aware of a child coming into the toddler equivalent of the no-fly-zone, and watched out accordingly.

[littleducks]

cah1- take them to tumble tots or sign ad sign or gymboree or whatever then, and when all the other mums go for a coffee afterwards you font have to join them

[spicemonster]

I don't know belgo - I just remember her being really cross as someone had made a cup of coffee when the children were around. Perhaps she has a stairgate on the kitchen?

But I don't even use plug covers in my house so I'm a bit devil may care about these things

[DoYouBelieveInGoats]

I have to say at a mums group I help run, held in a childrens centre, we have to use those bloody thermo cups. They leak, and spill, just the same, with the added fun of not cooling down for about 2 hours - thus ensuring that all mothers have to sip molton lava and burn their mouths....

Seriously, with a bit of common sense, I believe normal cups are much better.

[sally78]

First thing - yes all hot drinks in non spill cups makes sense.

Toddler groups are different from home. Children are all over the place and you know your child and your home etc.

Toddler groups should look after children first bored mums second - get a bloody life if things are sooooo bad you need a coffee that badly!

So, YANBU to think non spill cups are a good idea, but YABU to ban hot drinks.

[daftpunk]

yanbu...i agree with you

most playgroups are nothing about the children anyway...just aload of mums chatting away and taking no notice of their children.

[psychomum5]

oh god yes, ban them!!

bring wine instead

[islandofsodor]

I don;t know about the rest of you but I always find that tea goes cold really quickly in a cup and saucer rather than in a mug.

[Meglet]

PMSL psychomum in fact icy cold champagne would be best as no one would ever get burnt.