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!

When DS1 was small, the toddler group was the only time and yes this is the truth, the only time I managed to get a warm drink. He was a really hard baby and needed to be held all the time. I would have gone to peices without my local group.

I didnt drive, lived in a rural remote area and they were my salvation. I went for me, not for my child.

A happier mum means a happier child and I still look forward to my cup of coffee (in a real cup with saucer) made from hot milk. it is a highlight of the week - sad but true.

I know a child that was scaled by hot tea, but this was at home not in a toddler group.

All the sure start groups round by us, have a not hot drinks policy, you are not even allowed to drink it in the kitchen and there are loads of times, when a cup od tea is just what is needed.

I think that there is a need to take things a little too far in todays society.

Have a nice cuppa, take responsibility for your drink and if you see one where it isnt safe move it.

When I was 7 I accidentally poured half a kettle of boiling water all over my tummy. Thankfully I don't remember the pain now, but clearly it was horrific, and I remember lying in bed unable to be comforted by cuddles. I wasn't scarred by it either physically or mentally - not sure whether that makes me lucky or if that's the outcome for most people.

However I don't think that this is a reason to avoid hot water around children; rather, people need to be taught (if they don't already know) how to behave carefully and responsibly with hot drinks, etc. It is astonishing that some people can be so utterly dim-witted as to not think about where they place boiling hot drinks when children are around; by banning hot drinks altogether how are those people going to learn? They'll just take their dim-wittedness elsewhere.

Hi - thanks, I am better this morning although it really shook me up!! I do agree that a ban is out of proportion to the problem, but surely people running these groups do have to have a level of responsibility - for instance they must know the fire procedure in the rare event of a fire etc and must ensure that stairways are adaquately child safe. Thus, whereas obv we all have a responsibility to our own children, surely those running the group must have a responsibilty to ensure that the risk of accidents is kept to a minimum. This needent mean that we have to drink lukewarm tea, but just that sensible measures are put into place - such as some already mentioned. A risk assessment really doesn't have to be complex - just a quick look as to what the risks are and how they can be minimised.

MrsSchmaltzy - you don't have to be dim-witted for these accidents to occur. Obv there are some people who do take unacceotable risks, but a lot of accidents happen even when people are being cautious

Yes, you're right, thegirlwiththecurl. However there are negative consequences of our society continually wrapping itself up in cotton wool, and we have to ask ourselves whether we're prepared to live with those circumstances. Our society is becoming more paranoid, more likely to sue, more disconnected from each other, less prone to take responsibility for our own actions - yes there'll be other reasons for this but excessive H&S regulations do have an impact here.

I was amazed last year when I bought a Poppy for Armistice Day that I was told I could not be given a pin because of health & safety regulations. I could reach into the box and take one myself, but I couldn't be handed one.

How bloody nuts is that? Yes, there will be some people who may be pricked by a pin, perhaps 1 in a million. But should that warrant new H&S regulations? Similarly, there may be some people who will be careless with hot drinks around tots (and to be honest I do rank that carelessness as a form of dimwittery!), but does that warrant new regulations? Isn't it far better to tackle it for example by reminding people at every single meeting that they must keep their drinks well out of children's reach? If it's repeated enough it becomes a sort of mantra so that even the most dim-witted and the most careless among us will eventually get it. Surely that's a better outcome?

It is relevant that these accidents are more likely to happen at home because the implication is that toddler groups are more dangerous and I do not believe that they are.

I also don't think anyone is giving the OP a hard time.

Don't know if anyone is still reading but we had a sudden inspection at the kindy where I work last week. One of the assistants asked the head who the lady was - she said she had come from the Department dun dun duurrrr.. only the assistant didn't believe her, thought she was joking...

Offered the lady a cup of coffee saying "of course we're not allowed hot drinks around the children, just don't tell anyone......."!!!

Just thought it was relevant to your chat

I don't think measures need to be enforced, I think people just need to be reminded of how long a hot drink stays at a scalding temperature for and to remember to be careful. In the same way, Medised did not need to be withdrawn from sale for under2s, people just needed to be reminded of how it is meant to be used.

Why should we all being penalised for the behaviour of the small minority of stupid parents?

I also think that OTT safety measures can make you complacent.

I agree soupdragon, people shouldn't really have to suffer because of the careless few...so why should little children have to suffer because of adults foolishness? They shouldn't.

IME measures do need to be enforced - by which I mean, reminding, using cups with screw top lids, making parents drink away from children... or whatever is needed in that particular group. Because people just forget, or are just plain silly sometimes.

Whilst many people are sensibe and careful, some aren't, and in a group situation, in a 'public' place, you do need to account for that. I'm not saying ban drinks, I'm saying caution is needed, and at groups I have been to there has been no caution

I'm always being careless with cups of tea. No accidents yet. But I'd rather be careless with a cuppa than when driving. And the amount of people who are careless driving is unbelievable.

I can't believe people are even debating this subject. If you keep an eye on your child what's the problem? I've been going to various toddler groups for almost six years and have never seen a drink spilt let alone a child burnt. Get a life!

I can't really believe I am bothering with this, this supposed to be a discussion about hot drinks but peadiatrics is the american spelling and therefore spell check will revert to it. Both spellings are used in the medical literature I don't normally post on here because of my spelling, but I think this issue is important. You only have to have seen one bad scalding to be paranoid I have seen lots

Yanbu. They should serve neat gin. Seriously.

Is "peadiatrics" really the american spelling? I'm surprised at that given it's root but can't be arsed researching so ok, I'll accept that.

The American English spelling is pediatrics.

Ahh Thunderduck now that makes much more sense.

god help me

toddler groups are for mums

toddler doesnt want to go

not allowed a brew ? - worlds gone mad

YABU... as has already been said, it is only one of the risks at a toddler group. You have to weigh up (ALL) the risks yourself and make your own decision whether to go or not, please don't assist the govt in making this more of a nanny state than they are already making it!

No tea - No go.

I would like to know where:

a) the ones who have real cake are
b) the ones who have proper coffee are
c) the ones now serving alcohol instead...

I really don't enjoy going. I go because the LO (22 mths) enjoys it and asks to go - if I couldn't even have a cup of tea (make it yourself when you like, as often as you like, how you like - bliss) then she would get to go a lot less often!

I am quite able to look after a cup of tea and the LO and quite frankly would get P'off with being told every week to 'mind our hot drinks' or having more daft signs all over the place as if we are all stupid. If I see an unguarded cup I move it - it's not that difficult!!

When I was little (around 18 months) I pulled a cup of tea over me (Nana left the cup and saucer a little too close to the edge of the bench), my Mum ripped my dress off of me and put me under the cold water in the sink, fortunately no harm done... no scars, no memory of it even. Another one at home and not at a 'group'

thegirlwithacurl (and others) I'm not saying it's not scary when it happens and I do know that not all children are as lucky as I was. However, banning hot drinks is unreasonable. Given the amount of toddler groups that occur (cups of tea/coffee had) v the amount of accidents that occur at toddler groups the risk is minimal, there are far greater risks.

girlwithacurl - very pleased to hear that your LO is ok

Toddler groups have saved my sanity with DS (DD hated them).

I stopped going to the one that started a tea/coffee in the kitchen only rule (the kitchen was a large room away and round a corner ).

Just make sure parents are sensible

I remember my HV telling me not to put coffee on the floor when mine were tiny. I was a bit at her feeling the need to tell me, but maybe if everyone is told then the couple of bloody thick people might get the idea?

This is obviously a really emotinal issue especially if yur child has been scalded. I think common sense just needs to prevail. I help to run a toddler group and we use lidded cups and serve the drinks when they've had a bit of time to cool down. We also keep an eye out for unattended cups and remind people to be careful when we give them out (in a friendly way).
On a slightly different note my youngest broke his arm at the same group, just tripped over a toy - don't think we'll be banning toys though !

One of the toddler groups that we go to serve tea/coffee in those stay-hot mugs with a little spout (IYKWIM) which is a great idea IMO

My 11 month old recently had an accident with a hot cup of tea which ended with a four night stay in a special burns unit, surgery and they think a scar for life on her leg. Whilst she is fine now apart from the scar I am neurotic about hot drinks and I struggle to go to my local church group because of mums wandering around carrying hot drinks near all the kids. I completely understand that is one of the main reasons mums go; to chat and have a coffee but if my post can even save one child from such an experience by people being more aware of the damage a cup of tea can do then that is good. Keep them out of reach of wandering hands!