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Original poster

So.. Paper straws are dangerous

67 replies

ilovemykids5 · 05/06/2021 17:40

My 18month daughter wanted a little carton of milkshake that I had just got from the supermarket and they now come with the stupid paper straws. She was in the pram as we was going home and she suddenly starts coughing and choking and then spits out half of the soggy paper straw. I'm all for saving the planet but they need to think of something else as these are no good.

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MrsTerryPratchett · 05/06/2021 17:43

If she was coughing she wasn't choking. But I agree that using paper straws they should be watched.

However, I'm sure she'd rather give up milkshakes than live with plastic straws killing ocean creatures for 500 years.

MrsBongiovi · 05/06/2021 17:44

Hope she’s ok. But at that age, almost anything can be dangerous.

ForbiddenAppleEatingShits · 05/06/2021 18:00

I hate paper straws but also agree with them being phased out, I bought a pack of reusable straws in different sizes and keep a couple in each bag/glove box etc. Could you do that?

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Seesawmummadaw · 05/06/2021 18:01

At 18 months old I wouldn’t be giving her a straw anyway.

OverTheRubicon · 05/06/2021 18:07

I'm glad she was ok, I also don't think this is a good reason to allow plastic straws. Kids are fine with water or milk in properly designed bottles and cups - juice boxes and milkshake cartons are not a necessity, and probably aren't really aimed at 18 month olds either.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 05/06/2021 18:09

I hate the stupid paper straws.

However, if you wouldn't give her paper/cardboard to chew on, especially unsupervised, why would you think paper straws were ok?

Either invest in portable metal ones or wait until you're home and you can either tip it into a cup/bottle for her or you can watch her.

redferrari · 05/06/2021 18:10

Reusable straws! Amazon sells ones with a straw for easy cleaning and it comes with a case too.

Hellocatshome · 05/06/2021 18:10

What you should have said was paper straws are dangerous for young children who will chew them, which is pretty much the case for any straw to be honest.

Sirzy · 05/06/2021 18:12

Buy a reusable one then. Ds is autistic and can’t use paper straws as he chews then so we have a silicon one we can reuse

Batfurger · 05/06/2021 18:13

I wouldn't give an 18 month old a milk shake to suckle on between meals tbh. Perhaps have a think about diet and sugar, as well as "dangerous" straws.

Lorw · 05/06/2021 18:14

Keep a sippy cup in the pram, we keep one in car for youngest 😁

00100001 · 05/06/2021 18:17

LOL at giving an 18m old a milkshake 😬

butwhatcanwedo · 05/06/2021 18:21

The reusable ones can be dangerous too. Soft palate injuries are awful.

Prisonbreak · 05/06/2021 18:22

Everything can be dangerous. You need to assess the risks

Raindropumbrella · 05/06/2021 18:23

I wouldn’t be giving a child of that age a milkshake and certainly not a straw anyway. Maybe sit on that one.

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/06/2021 18:28

@butwhatcanwedo

The reusable ones can be dangerous too. Soft palate injuries are awful.
Only silicone reusable. Metal ones are very dangerous.
Pbbananabagel · 05/06/2021 18:28

Tbf milkshake is better than fruit juice for their teeth. And definitely better than things like fruit shoots.

musicalfrog · 05/06/2021 18:30

Take a reusable sippy cup with you and you'll never need to buy a single use packaged drink again. Safe for the planet, and safe for kids!

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/06/2021 18:33

@Pbbananabagel

Tbf milkshake is better than fruit juice for their teeth. And definitely better than things like fruit shoots.
Grin

There are drinks such as water and milk. No need for juice or shakes. And don't get me started on squash!

Invisimamma · 05/06/2021 18:41

You're not supposed to eat or chew on the straws. They probably say not suitable for under 3s for that reason. I don't think a milk shake is a suitable drink for an 18 month old anyway.

Paper straws aren't great to be honest but I would rather use them than pollute the environment.

NigellaSeed · 05/06/2021 18:46

Agree with PP. Water or milk is best for toddlers. At that age they don't know any better so why force sugar upon them?

I wouldn't give an 18 month old any kind of straw.

Original poster
ilovemykids5 · 05/06/2021 18:46

All of you Karen's kicking off about me giving a 18month old a milkshake. It was a one off as her older sisters (7 and 6) wanted one. Also she wasn't unsupervised either she was in the pram facing me.

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NigellaSeed · 05/06/2021 18:47

Blimey..and you use the name Karen as an insult.

DumplingsAndStew · 05/06/2021 18:48

Wow, Peter, calm down.

If she was facing you, why didn't you notice and stop her from chewing on the straw, like you would do with anything else she would be putting near her mouth?

Pinkblueberry · 05/06/2021 18:50

I don’t think their great either but as pp have said you’re not obliged to use them. My three year old was sucking on one and then made a bit of a face as it disintegrated and his tongue was covered. This was at a restaurant - I’ll just ask for no straw next time. With a carton of juice that doesn’t work though I guess. But I don’t think my DS wouldn’t have known what a carton of milkshake was at 18 months if he saw one and then asked to have one. I just take his water bottle everywhere, fits in my bag easily enough.