WWA12D?

MommyMelRN · June 2013

A little background info on me as a parent. I'm pretty laid back. My kid has free range to explore our home breakables and chemicals are locked up and I don't freak out if my kid eats dirt or puts some previously slobbered on by someone else toys in his mouth. One thing I do get paranoid about, however, is latex balloons. They just aren't safe to play with for little kids, and if there was an "accident" and popped balloon fragments were inhaled, the likelihood that we could get the right kind of help in time is slim to none. So, I don't let my kid play with balloons but, I'm generally the type to keep my mouth shut when it comes to other people's kids.

So, yesterday we went to a 1 year old's birthday party. They had a nice little area set up for the kids to play in...and it was full of latex balloons for the kids to play in. Umm, what the heck am I supposed to do with THAT? What would you have done? We limited his time in that space, and watched him like a hawk when he was in there, but I'm worried my other friend, who's daughter was turning 1 in a month will also think this is a great idea. Should I casually but tactfully say something about it before then?

Tula214 · June 2013

We don't let J play with balloons at all. I've become pretty laid back, but that's something I just don't mess with. That, and bandaids.

bigbootyjudi · June 2013

Why she wouldn't have just bought a huge bag of balls is beyond me. I don't know anyone who lets their kid frolick around in busted latex.

I would just bring it up, but not specifically aimed at her party. Not: "Oh, I hope you don't plan on doing that, because x-y-z!" But more like, "Oh, did LO nap after the party? (or some party related question). I thought it was weird that the-mom's-name thought that was a good idea...I mean, we don't need our kids eating latex!" or something of the sort.

MommyMelRN · June 2013

LiliDragon:
I would have done what you did. Realistically, you would hear a balloon pop, and if you're watching the little ones, you deal with it immediately, right? In my experience, kids cry and run to mummy and daddy when balloons pop...although eating latex is definitely a concern....With regards to your friend, I'm learning that there's really no point trying to control what other people do. You can tell her you hate balloons and why, but be prepared for her to do whatever she wants to do, because everybody thinks their way is the right way, KWIM? I don't know how much effort I'd put into trying to convince her not to have them. Just don't let DS play in them if you're really worried.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;

It's not eating it I'm worried about, it's the accidental inhalation, which happens when they are surprised at the balloon popping.

MommyMelRN · June 2013

bigbootyjudi:
Why she wouldn't have just bought a huge bag of balls is beyond me. I don't know anyone who lets their kid frolick around in busted latex.I would just bring it up, but not specifically aimed at her party. Not: "Oh, I hope you don't plan on doing that, because xyz!" But more like, "Oh, did LO nap after the party? or some party related question. I thought it was weird that themom'sname thought that was a good idea...I mean, we don't need our kids eating latex!" or something of the sort.

Yeah, I was thinking of going with "I hope we didn't come off as rude to party host I really wanted to let LO play with the other kids, but I get really nervous about balloons because they can be such a choking hazard to babies" and leave it at that. I mean if she still chose to have them, at least she would know why Gabe wasn't playing with the other kids, kwim? My honest hunch is that the hosts, and my other friend don't really know that these balloons are a hazard, but I don't want to be knowitall Nancy either and "Tisk Tisk" people either.

Megispreg · June 2013

I wouldn't say anything.

allardr · June 2013

I wouldn't say anything and just not let LO play in them.

nopegoat · June 2013

I wouldn't really say anything either.

You can't control what others do. If you don't feel comfortable with it don't let your LO do it. Personally I would be more worried about the choking factor than them actually inhaling it. Seriously not being rude or snarky but what are the actual chances of them inhaling balloon fragments. It seems pretty small. And if someone was right there watching the, choking shouldn't be a huge problem.

Cheerilee · June 2013

In conversation tell a horror story. Like "Oh my gosh! I was talking to a friend and she told me... I'm going to be a little more vigilant about keeping LO away from balloons until she's older!"

When I was little, I ate a balloon. It was unused. My mom took me to the hospital because my breathing was getting labored and she couldn't figure out why. The doctor checked my nose and pulled the balloon out. It had been inflating when I breathed, essentially blowing up inside me. I was slowly suffocating.

fastcarsandfreedom3319 · June 2013

Cheerilee:
In conversation tell a horror story. Like "Oh my gosh! I was talking to a friend and she told me... I'm going to be a little more vigilant about keeping LO away from balloons until she's older!"

When I was little, I ate a balloon. It was unused. My mom took me to the hospital because my breathing was getting labored and she couldn't figure out why. The doctor checked my nose and pulled the balloon out. It had been inflating when I breathed, essentially blowing up inside me. I was slowly suffocating.

Um and here is your horror story. Omg Cheerilee!

amaite · June 2013

For some things, supervision is just not enough, and IMO latex balloons are one of those things. When inhaled, they are incredibly difficult to remove, even for the medical professionals, and seeing it happen and reacting immediately may not be enough. The Children's Hospital where I take my son prohibits them for this very reason. You wouldn't leave your child in their car seat in a moving vehicle not strapped in if you were in the back seat next to them to supervise, because on the off chance there is an accident, watching it and calling for help might not be enough. I would have said something to the parent at the party, because they probably have no idea of the danger, and I would not let my child play with the balloons.

MommyMelRN · June 2013

kdm06c:
I wouldn't really say anything either.nbsp;You can't control what others do. If you don't feel comfortable with it don't let your LO do it. nbsp;Personally I would be more worried about the choking factor than them actually inhaling it. Seriously not being rude or snarky but what are the actual chances of them inhaling balloon fragments. It seems pretty small. And if someone was right there watching the, choking shouldn't be a huge problem.nbsp;nbsp;

Well, I don't want my kid choking on it either, for one, but let's think about this. You are one year old and biting on a balloon, it pops. The reflex reaction to being surprised is a sharp breath in...you can very easily inhale a broken piece of balloon. The pedi department at my previous job banned latex balloons for this reason.

gollywollypog · June 2013

I am super paranoid about balloons. I would NOT let Emery play in a balloon pit. Even at 5 and 7 Avalin and Joaquin know that if they put a balloon near their mouths they lose the privilege to play with them.

It's hard to say if I would have said anything to the party mom or the other guests though. On one hand, they probably don't know the dangers but on the other hand it'd be rude to say something in front of everyone at the party. I don't know.

My uncle is a firefighter and he HATES latex balloons. He's had to witness some horrible stuff as a career firefighter for 30+ years.

It can easily shoot down the breathing tube when it pops, the force of the pop shoots it down. And the heimlich is useless for that kind of an object.

I shudder just thinking about it.

And Cheerilee, that's crazy!!

MommyMelRN · June 2013

KLilley:
I am super paranoid about balloons.nbsp; I would NOT let Emery play in a balloon pit.nbsp; Even at 5 and 7 Avalin and Joaquin know that if they put a balloon near their mouths they lose the privilege to play with them.nbsp; It's hard to say if I would have said anything to the party mom or the other guests though.nbsp; On one hand, they probably don't know the dangers but on the other hand it'd be rude to say something in front of everyone at the party.nbsp; I don't know.My uncle is a firefighter and he HATES latex balloons.nbsp; He's had to witness some horrible stuff as a career firefighter for 30 years.nbsp; It can easily shoot down the breathing tube when it pops, the force of the pop shoots it down.nbsp; And the heimlich is useless for that kind of an object. I shudder just thinking about it. And Cheerilee, that's crazy!!

Thank you, this was exactly what I was trying to say, only worded much better, lol! Yeah, I didn't want to be rude. I think I'm hypersensitive in that crowd too because I find myself biting my tongue so much with them. I guess I don't really have any qualms mentioning it to my other friend since we're close enough. I just need to choose my words carefully so as not to offend and sound judgy. My friend is kind of a helicopter parent, I highly doubt she'd let her kid play with a balloon if she knew it could be dangerous.

MommyMelRN · June 2013

Cheerilee:
In conversation tell a horror story. Like "Oh my gosh! I was talking to a friend and she told me... I'm going to be a little more vigilant about keeping LO away from balloons until she's older!"

When I was little, I ate a balloon. It was unused. My mom took me to the hospital because my breathing was getting labored and she couldn't figure out why. The doctor checked my nose and pulled the balloon out. It had been inflating when I breathed, essentially blowing up inside me. I was slowly suffocating.

yikes! This is the kind of stuff I worry about!

PaisleyRuth · June 2013

I would seriously never have thought of this danger. Thanks Mel! I think I would still let my kids play with balloons but not bite on them. I would have discouraged biting them before but just to prevent them being scared if they popped.

MommyMelRN · June 2013

PaisleyRuth:
I would seriously never have thought of this danger. Thanks Mel! I think I would still let my kids play with balloons but not bite on them. I would have discouraged biting them before but just to prevent them being scared if they popped.

This is what I ended up doing when he was playing with the other kids, but I was so nervous. I didn't want him to miss out on the fun! If he looked like he was going to bite it, I gave him something else to chew on.