Hot drinks at playgroups? Advice please.

[franch]

I've read a couple of threads on this subject before but would really like some thoughts on what is thought to be 'best practice' with regards to hot teas & coffees for mums and dads at playgroups. I've started taking DD (14m) to a lovely singalong type session once or twice a week and afterwards we all move into an adjacent room where the woman serves tea to the mums. There are cups of scalding-hot liquid everywhere! Most mums are very careful but some with very young babies, for example, are less aware of the antics of scarily fast crawlers like DD.

Nothing has happened - yet - of course, but I'm not entirely comfortable with the safety of all this. I could of course leave before tea is served but one of the reasons I go is to make contact with other mums.

What do other playgroups do? And what (if anything) would you do in my place?

Yes I remember your thread Evesmama. Just shows that these things DO happen. Just lucky the consequences weren't more serious in your case.

i think its wrong and never have a hot cuppa at current group, but they are a lot more safety consious, but it only takes a second! old mum and todd group still hasnt changed

Sounds familiar Franch, what is the name of the group if you don't mind me asking. If its type of group I think it is, then have a word with the group leader. I'm sure she would be willing to have a word with the mums warning them to be careful etc.

I remember my first NCT coffee morning with 6 month old dd. I was oblivious to the danger of putting my cup of tea down on the floor until someone pointed it out

Franch, I'm possibly in the minority about this!

I'm quite neurotic about hot drinks around children, particularly in a baby/toddler group type of situation.

It's quite possible that someone would forget about their cuppa when diving over to grab their LO away from the danger of someone elses, therefore leaving theirs in a possibly unsafe place.

The group I used to go to didn't do hot drinks for safety's sake, we each still made friends!

Having said that, I think some of the suggestions here are great, but don't know how feasible they would be in a group of mixed age LO's.

At the Playcentre I go to, you have to have hot drinks in the kitchen. There is a toddler gate up at the door.

bobbybob, that sounds like a good arrangement. Badger, glad to hear someone's as paranoid as me JulieF, I'd rather not name the group - it's just a one-off local thing - it's pretty much a different assortment of mums every week because it's a drop-in, so difficult for the leader to have a word with everyone without doing it at every single session .......

Still not sure how to tackle this really.