The European Union (EU) recently approved a new toy safety directive which states that children younger than eight are not permitted to blow up balloons.
Even more ridiculous, all children under the age of 14 are banned from blowing on whistleblowers, the favorite party favours that uncurl a long paper tongue when the whistle end is tooted.
Both rules are designed to prevent swallowing and choking.
Other Big Brother rules in the legislation include restrictions on how loud toys such as baby rattles and musical instruments are permitted to be.
Even teddy bears did not escape unscathed. Â Stuffed toys meant for children under 3 will have to be washable to prevent young children and babies from exposure to dirt and disease.
Even simple coloring books were regulated along with anything played with by children under the age of 14.
Paul Nuttall of the European Parliament’s consumer safety committee, calls the EU legislative world a “kill joy”.
He went on to say:
“… this is crackers but I’m sure children are banned from using them too. Â EU party poopers should not be telling families how to blow up balloons.”
British toy manufacturers are concerned that the new regulations will drive up the price of toys due to required warning labels and safety tests.
A spokesman for the European Commission defended the new toy rules as necessary to prevent any parent’s worst nightmare and that the safety experts knew best.
One official put it this way:
“You might say that small children have been blowing up balloons for generations, but not anymore and they will be safer for it.”
My question is where will it all end?
For example, just because a teddy bear is washable doesn’t mean that it will actually be washed. Will the EU see fit to pass another rule to require parents and caregivers to wash them too? If so, how often? How hot should the water be? Is there a certain type of soap that must be used?
These types of restrictions and rules are an ever tightening noose on the throat of a society becoming increasingly dependent on its “Government Family” for direction regarding even the most mundane of everyday decisions.
This is the type of inconsistent mess that occurs when government tries to legislate personal and parental responsibility.
Source: Â Children to be Banned from Blowing Up Balloons Under New EU Safety Rules
Seriously unbelieveable!
I thought this was a joke when I first came across the story.
It seems the government would have our children in straight jackets (so they don’t poke themselves in the eye) on the couch with IV feeding tubes (so they don’t eat something that is not completely sterilized) and don’t choke on unsafe toys around the house due to complete lack of any adult supervision (which is assumed).
Of course, these same kids are perfectly capable of reading a 30 page Gardasil vaccine insert and decide to have an injection without parental approval.
Oh, but the profits of the drug companies are far more important than the safety of children.
If this type of government entanglement into our private lives bothers you, then check out the movement for a Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It would go a long way to safe guard that parents retain the right to raise their own children as they see fit (balloons and all), not as Big Brother government would have you do.
Yes!!
Crazy
SMH…
Enough already!
My preschooler stuck his dirt covered finger in the baby’s mouth yesterday while I was gardening, should my children be banned from the yard? I wonder what the statistics are on injuries due to 12 year-olds blowing up balloons or children putting dirty toys in their mouths. My guess is fewer than those who injure their backs hauling the printout of those massive nanny-state laws.
Oh, how ridiculous! This proves that “safety experts” don’t know best. I agree a parent shouldn’t let their 2 year old blow up a balloon, but we don’t need a law stating it. Parents just need to use common sense, and Big Brother needs to just get out.
How many of us made it through childhood blowing up balloons, playing with party favors, and hugging un-washable teddy bears? I did, but it’s because my parents taught me how to use them properly, and kept an eye on me. Not because it was a law.
It’s the old question of is a parent irresponsible for believing in divine healing if a child dies and no one did anything. Or the question of child abuse, someone knew it was happening but didn’t want to interfere because of parents rights. Yet everyday, accidents happen, tragedy happens and you just hope it is never you or your kids this happens too.
Stuff we did growing up, my mother has nightmares to this day about, because now we know better. You think we ever wore seat belts? driving down the freeway at 80, 5 kids piled in the station wagon with the back window open, all the while breathing carbon monoxide fumes that were being pulled into the window? How many kids got shocked putting something metal in an electrical outlet when mommy ran to the bathroom? How many parents put dry cleaning bags on top of baby mattresses and the kid suffocated? How many kids got their heads stuck in between crib slats and died? Do you want lead from China in your food, on your toys, in your makeup?
Your parent was probably like one in twenty today. Responsible and fortunate to be there. The rest are too busy working, and trying to keep up day to day. We live in a producer/ consumer society. You have laws that have been developed to protect people. Other wise you will hear, no one is protecting us.
Sure there are some that seem as “ridiculous laws” but they have been put in place for a reason. Not because “they” want to police you but because “They” know that some people can be irresponsible or they know that there has been an increased number in certain types of accidents that are hoped will decrease.
Kids in safety seats, air safety bags, etc….
@ heather you don’t have to worry about that, be happy you’ve got neosporin and bandaids available and that you know enough to help your kids with a healthy immune system. Many of these laws are in response to irresponsible companies who have taken advantage of unsuspecting individuals by using cheap parts, fake foods, etc…
I agree Kathy that a lot of people do not have the advantage of responsible parents who are there for their children, but maybe instead of different laws we need to teach parents how to be responsible and be there for their kids.
One of the affects of putting laws like this into place is they make parents LESS responsible because they are now relying on others to keep their children safe. So instead of thinking it through themselves they become blind followers.
What is dangerous to one kid might not be dangerous to another, and parents need to know what dangerous things their kids are drawn to.
Now there are places that laws make sense, like the lead issue, but we tend to take it way to far.
@Heather I wonder what the statistics are as well. I remember when I was little a toddler at a baseball game found out she liked eating the old cigarette butts all over the ground! Finally my friend and I asked if she should be doing that… our mother’s leaped into action and got as many out of her mouth as possible. She lived and did fine. So I wouldn’t worry to much about dirt. xD
Kathy, it’s not really about the safety issues, it’s about who is the head of your household. Regulations like these pave the way for the government to lead your family instead of you. Do you believe that the government should dictate whether or not your choices are right? We’re supposed to have Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Where’s the liberty in these toy laws? Where’s the freedom of choice? By all means, put warning labels on balloons stating the inhalation and latex allergy risks. Please do make the teddies washable and if you want, recommend how often. But let people make their own choices! You cannot legislate responsibility.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” -Benjamin Franklin
Toy Police to Children: No More Balloons – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/fCIAO9GK