Parents issued warning as Christmas crackers could be 'hazard' to children
Christmas crackers are a staple part of the Christmas Day experience, but one mum has warned parents to "remain vigilant" when letting young children use them, as they could be dangerous.
What would Christmas dinner be without a Christmas cracker? We all know the feeling of sitting down at the table to eat and pulling open one of the cardboard toys with the help of the person sitting next to you. Putting on the flimsy paper hat is a must before any of your dinner can be eaten, while the joke and the - often rubbish - novelty item inside add a little bit of humour to the afternoon meal.
But one mum has said there's a danger to using Christmas crackers that most of us don't think about. She claimed that the novelty items inside the crackers are often very small and can pose a choking hazard to young children, especially those aged three and under.
Cynthia Ewers-Cobb, founder of Green Eco Lifestyle, is a sustainability blogger and devoted mum, and she exclusively told The Mirror that parents should "remain vigilant" this festive season if they're planning on allowing their young children to pull Christmas crackers. She urged parents to "supervise" their children when it comes to pulling crackers and said they should "actively participate" to ensure they can quickly remove any small pieces before they become a hazard.
"It's important to have fun but remain vigilant during the festive season, especially with presents and Christmas crackers," she explained. "The small toys enclosed in crackers pose a potential choking hazard for young children (three and under).
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"It's essential you supervise your child when they are pulling the crackers as an extra safety measure. Make sure you are actively participating in the cracker-pulling with your child so you can avoid any potential risks."
If you are worried about Christmas crackers being a choking hazard for your child, Cynthia recommends investing in "eco-friendly crackers", which often have larger toys inside that aren't made from harmful plastics. She added: "These crackers often contain safe, non-toxic toys (nicer) made from sustainable materials which are better for your child and the planet."
You can also buy specific "child-friendly" Christmas crackers which can come with a range of items inside that don't involve small plastic toys, such as stickers, pieces of chocolate, and even collectable cards. Mother & Baby have a roundup of Christmas crackers suitable for children on their website.
There is no age restriction on using Christmas crackers, but it is illegal in the UK to sell crackers to anyone under the age of 12. Under the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015, Christmas crackers are classified as a category 1 firework alongside the likes of party poppers, bangers, and sparklers.
All types of firework outlined under the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 are subject to the same penalties. In England and Wales, this means an unlimited fine, imprisonment for up to three months or both. Those guilty of the same offence in Scotland and Northern Ireland, meanwhile, face a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000), up to three months imprisonment, or both.
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