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Original poster

Anyone else's MIL let LO's play with unsuitable toys????

63 replies

archiesmummy · 22/09/2006 18:55

We had sunday lunch in a pub and I was holding DS (9 months almost) as he was a bit bored. MIL sat opposite and suddenly I hear this noise so I look at what he is doing... he was rattling a set of keys dangerously close to his face and making marks in the table.. !!!! MIL was smiling and thought this was a great distraction. How anyone can think keys are suitable toys for a baby I don't know.
Also she bought him a Golliwog , which I have hidden at the bottom of his toy chest so it will never resurface again..

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Bozza · 22/09/2006 19:09

I have seen countless babies play with keys. I have always been more worried about loosing the keys.

SoupDragon · 22/09/2006 19:10

What's so wrong with keys??

FrannyandZooey · 22/09/2006 19:13

I run heuristic play classes for babies and bunches of keys are one of the items recommended by educational psychologists for sensory exploration. Parents can sometimes feel concerned when they see their children playing with objects like this but with supervision they are perfectly safe. What is it that worries you about the keys? They can't be swallowed and are not sharp enough for a baby to hurt themselves with.

The golliwog I will leave well alone! Certainly a strange choice.

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bubbly1973 · 22/09/2006 19:14

i wouldnt mind if someone is rattling keys infront of my ds's, however, i wouldnt be as happy if my little one was holding them and shoving them in there mouths purely because of all the germs on there and the main reason, i wouldnt want to put a bunch of keys in my mouth!

but no, i dotn think it would bother me to have someone rattle them to keep them happy

FioFio · 22/09/2006 19:14

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Message withdrawn

Saturn74 · 22/09/2006 19:15

Lots of people use keys to keep babies entertained. Nice of her to play with him, and not just expect you to entertain him. She sounds like a lovely grandmother.

My MIL used to play a game where she would let my babies reach out for the handle on her cup of tea, and then move it away at the last second.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it..............?

beckybrastraps · 22/09/2006 19:15

Mine played with keys all the time. But not golliwogs.

hulababy · 22/09/2006 19:18

I have also seen lots of babies and young children playing with keys, especially when in restaurants, etc - I guess they are rattly and a bit of a distraction for the little one. The only thing that might bother me was the germs on them, but probably not enough to be that concerned or to say anything - I'd just keep an eye on the play and move them away from mouth if necessary.

FrannyandZooey · 22/09/2006 19:19

Bubbly, babies learn about objects by putting them in their mouths. They don't rely on sight as we do but use their sense of touch much more, and the mouth is the most sensitive area of the body. Babies can learn an astonishing amount about an object from putting it in their mouths.

Why do you think keys are particularly germ-ridden? I presume you let your baby crawl around on the floor, where people have walked and brought in dirt and who knows what from the street? Keys are no more germy than other materials your baby will be coming into contact with.

SoupDragon · 22/09/2006 19:19

Germs on keys??? DS1 used to eat discarded catfood!

beckybrastraps · 22/09/2006 19:19

At 9 months the germs from keys would make up a very small fraction of my children's daily intake!

alexsmum · 22/09/2006 19:20

keys are fine and i personally think golliwogs are fine. it's just a soft toy fgs.

SoupDragon · 22/09/2006 19:22

There's nothing wrong with a golliwog per se, it's the history and meaning behind them. I had one as a child and it meant nothing to me bar it being a cuddly toy. I certainly didn't know or understand any of the racist meanings.

FrannyandZooey · 22/09/2006 19:23

Sorry archiesmummy we are not being very helpful are we?

It is very annoying when you have different views on things to your MIL, and I can really sympathise with that part.

Twiglett · 22/09/2006 19:23

keys are a totally suitable toy for a 9 month old

golliwogs don't exist any more do they? .. if it does I'd throw it out

BettySpaghetti · 22/09/2006 19:23

My two always loved keys -my main concern was that they might lose them so I made up a play bunch with real, but old and no longer used, keys. One of the most popular non-toy toys that we have.

quokka · 22/09/2006 19:23

omg you think keys are dangerous my mil has given ds1 (2yrs) a 50yr old tin peddel car that has broken steering and sharp rusty bits all over it and he LOVES it. I always find somethng wrong with whatever mil does I don't mean to, it just happens.

Twiglett · 22/09/2006 19:26

I well remember that feeling though .. everything has to be sanitised and designed for babies .. you will probably decide over time that that is total rubbish and natural objects like keys, shells, citrus fruit etc prove the best toys

FillyjonktheBananaEater · 22/09/2006 19:28

keys fine. my dd until recently liked to lick the kitchen floor. Ds, who is older, though it was incredibly funny and copied her. I can see this is going to be a long one...

Golliwogs not fine. My PIL know we won't have them in the house. So they have created a sort of golliwog amnesty at their own house. fortuntale they live 200 miles away

FioFio · 22/09/2006 19:29

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bubbly1973 · 22/09/2006 19:30

FrannyandZooey yes i know all that thanks for reminding me though!

like i say main reason is because i cant stand the thought of keys going into my mouth its just the thought of it same as i dont like blowing up balloons after someone else but that might not bother the person next to me

and i did let ds crawl round the floor you presumed right but i never let him lick it

bubbly1973 · 22/09/2006 19:32

worst thing to give toddler is a fly swatter eewww

FrannyandZooey · 22/09/2006 19:32

They do suck their hands after crawling all over the floor though bubbly, same difference IMO

(or are you poised with a Dettox wipe after every floor encounter? )

I do agree with you about balloons though -

albosmum · 22/09/2006 19:33

I hate to see lOs playing with keys, dh let ds2 play with his as a consequence he fell over with them in his mouth and wrenched two bottom teeth out - one was extracted by dentist straight away the second was extracted 6 months later

Not a suitabl toy in my opinion

bubbly1973 · 22/09/2006 19:34

i also suck my fingers after crawling on the floor

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