Really stupid question - Are "most" toddlers frightened of fireworks?

[Elfsmummy]

Ok. This is probably a really stupid question.

DD is 19 months and we're going to stay with childless friends this weekend. DH and I love fireworks and took her to a display last year which she slept through.

I just assumed that we'd take her again this year, wrap her up warm, give her a cuddle and watch the beautiful fireworks together. Then I read the thread about the firework display at the nursery and panicked!

Do toddlers not like the bangs? I know that sounds stupid and all toddlers are different but has anyone had a possitive toddler experience? DD doesn't seem scared of anything normally - so I'd never considered this before!

Now I'm imagining a hysterical toddler and I can't really do anything like a trial run first!

My ds has always been fine about fireworks, loves holding sparklers etc (dd the exact opposite even now she's 6)

My boy shit-scared I'm afraid. Might see if we can watch some through a window, or from a distance. He just hates the bangs.

None of my 3 are/have been.

DS last year, at around that age, was more-or-less OK with them. He was a bit unsure but seemed to feel secure so long as he was with us and getting reassurance, and then really got into it. The display we went to did go on for a while, though, and he got kind of "fireworked out" before we got to the end so we sloped off a bit early.

i took mt DS (18.5mo) to a halloween party on wednesday and they had a firework display, the first few bangs shocked him, but then he watched them intensely. I did have my hands over his ears, just to muffle the sound a bit, but straight after he was shouting 'more more'

I think it just depends on the child, we were fully prepared to retreat inside but now we're going to be buying him some small ones for the weekend.

My DD1 is scared of the noise. DD2 is fine with them and so are DS1 and DS2.

At this age ds was fine (as long as you were holding him). Now at 3 years old he is generally more scared - especially of the ones with big bangs.

Mine weren't.

Thanks guys, I guess Saturday will tell!

Fingers crossed!

boy jumps sometimes at loud bangs, but mostly he looks fasinated at teh lights and says noy (noise) noy. 19 m/o. depends on teh kid, be prepared to change your relationship to teh fireworks, take along a favourite book etc in case you need to take her indoors and distract.

Just been to a really bog fireworks display

have to say some bits of it were very very loud

there were lots of young children, all ages, from tiny babies to older toddlers and i (in the quiet moment between the bangs) honestly didnt here 1 single child cry or be destressed during the whole 26 minute show.

They all seemed to love it

i would take a baby / toddler to a fireworks display unless they were obviosuly very frightened!

Just went with ours (2.10 and 4 mo) and they both seemed to love it.

Last year (9 mo) she slept through everything. This year, (21 mo) she is very nervous, hates the noise, though likes seeing the sparkles.

This evening, it took her over an hour to get to sleep (usually takes 5 mins) as every time she was dropping off, another bang disturbed her- cue lots of howling, though mainly for the disrupted sleep, not howling at fireworks when she's up and about IYSWIM.

She's quite a sensitive child though...

I ran our school bonfire last night. We're a small rural school, 64 4 - 11 year olds, and only one family doesn't come because one of the children is scared of fireworks. Watch from the back so you can go in somewhere if necessary. Frankly, there's no escape from them tonight anyway, it's like Passchendaele out here.

Took DS (then 2.1)last year and he was unfazed, not that bothered but not upset either. Took him this year - tonight in fact - age 3.1 and he was ecstatic, squealing and giggling and chattering away about all the fireworkds all the way home. Had a real happy mummy moment watching how much he enjoyed it, because it was just the two of us who went (DS dad at a gig, friend with similar age DC who was going to come had her DC misbehaving to the point where their dad said no firework display by way of punishment). Is your LO generally OK with sudden noises, or easily freaked by them? Will you be able to make a rapid retreat in the case of extreme infant protest? Because as with almost everything, you don't know if your DC will like it till you try

my twins were ten months on Millenium Eve, and adored it.

I don't know.

It's never bothered either of mine fwiw

For various reasons we ended up watching an organised display from the back garden (so quite far away) and she was fine.

Might take her down to the local village one tomorrow night if she's not too tired.

Thanks again guys