My DD was almost burned by a novelty lighter at the Dollar Store today!

[Minnie_me]

We were in the checkout lane at the Dollar General, and they had boxes of novelty lighters WELL within reach of small children. My 7-year old DD picked up a "guitar", and pretended to play it. Imagine our surprise when FIRE shot out of it!

She screamed and threw it on the floor. I was like "WHAT THE?!?!?" I had no idea they were lighters, either. Next to them, was a box of gun-shaped lighters, and another box of some other fun shape next to that.

I told the cashier that he should move those boxes so little kids couldn't reach them. He claimed that he was not allowed to make those decisions.

I already emailed the company. What else can I do? They are so freakin' lucky that my baby didn't burn herself.

 

[Lady V]

so there was no sign at all?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I am glad your daughter didn't get burned today.

 

[mamacatnv]

What else can I do? They are so freakin' lucky that my baby didn't burn herself.

Teach your child to "look" with their eyes and not with their hands.

I am glad you DD was not hurt, but I fail to see why this is the stores fault.

 

[Daxx]

More than likely it's corporate that makes the decisions on where merch. is placed. Therefore, the cashier is prob. accurate in his response to you.

I agree w/the poster who said teach your child to look w/her eyes and not her hands. May I add having your child ask your permission to touch, too. At age 7, everything looks fun and touchable and, unfortunately as your child found out, they are not. Better that your child asks permission and you say no than for her to get injured again.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

More than likely it's corporate that makes the decisions on where merch. is placed. Therefore, the cashier is prob. accurate in his response to you.

I agree w/the poster who said teach your child to look w/her eyes and not her hands. May I add having your child ask your permission to touch, too. At age 7, everything looks fun and touchable and, unfortunately as your child found out, they are not. Better that your child asks permission and you say no than for her to get injured again.

I'm glad your child was not hurt but have to agree. I've always taught my kids to not touch things in a store.

I do have this question--I thought lighters were supposed to be child proof. Wasn't that put into law a few years ago?

 

[Minnie_me]

If there was a child safety device, it wasn't very effective. We didn't stick around long enough to find out.

Seriously, people: do your children not touch anything in the dollar store? Come on. She's 7, and she enjoys picking up small toys and looking at them while we shop. We do the "look with your eyes" when we're in places where she could break something, but I never thought to forbid handling Dollar Store items.

She knows what cigarette lighters look like, and knows not to touch them. But to her knowledge, they don't look like small guitars. This looked very much like a charm for her backpack.

Don't you think that the store has ANY responsibility to the safety of its customers?

 

[Daxx]

Seriously, people: do your children not touch anything in the dollar store? Come on. She's 7, and she enjoys picking up small toys and looking at them while we shop. We do the "look with your eyes" when we're in places where she could break something, but I never thought to forbid handling Dollar Store items.

DS11 only touches if he asks permission or plans on buying. He's been out w/other parents and they've said they're suprised that he asks permission to touch something in a store. Sorry, but there's nothing worse than a book that's bent up or toy that's been obviously played w/by some kid who had to touch or finding the "right" shirt and noticing some sticky kid handprint on it b/c the child had to touch.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm glad your DD didn't get burned and I do agree that they should not be within child's reach. I would be annoyed by that. I do think they should be on the counter away from little hands. Sometimes you just can't grab the kid quick enough. BUT- my kids are not allowed to touch anything in the stores. Doesn't matter if it is the dollar store or Tiffanys. Have they ever touched something? Sure but we constantly re-enforce the no touching rule. I tell them not to touch and if they can't help themselves then keep your hands in your pockets. (They are very young).

 

[mamacatnv]

If there was a child safety device, it wasn't very effective. We didn't stick around long enough to find out.

Seriously, people: do your children not touch anything in the dollar store? Come on. She's 7, and she enjoys picking up small toys and looking at them while we shop. We do the "look with your eyes" when we're in places where she could break something, but I never thought to forbid handling Dollar Store items.

She knows what cigarette lighters look like, and knows not to touch them. But to her knowledge, they don't look like small guitars. This looked very much like a charm for her backpack.

Don't you think that the store has ANY responsibility to the safety of its customers?

Dollar store items are notoriously on the recall lists. I hate dollar stores and don't even like to take DD into them for a lot of the reasons being discussed here. They are cluttered with items that could pose harm. It is not the clerks fault, "he just works there".

My issue was not so much with her touching, my DD is 9 and I am still constantly having to remind her not to touch.

I guess my issue with your question was your immediate response of

They are so freakin' lucky that my baby didn't burn herself

Thus putting ALL the responsibility onto the store and none onto you who is ultimatly in charge of your DD's safety, not the store.

Again, glad your DD was not harmed

 

[Minnie_me]

I'm glad your DD didn't get burned and I do agree that they should not be within child's reach. I would be annoyed by that. I do think they should be on the counter away from little hands. Sometimes you just can't grab the kid quick enough. BUT- my kids are not allowed to touch anything in the stores. Doesn't matter if it is the dollar store or Tiffanys. Have they ever touched something? Sure but we constantly re-enforce the no touching rule. I tell them not to touch and if they can't help themselves then keep your hands in your pockets. (They are very young).

DS11 only touches if he asks permission or plans on buying. He's been out w/other parents and they've said they're suprised that he asks permission to touch something in a store. Sorry, but there's nothing worse than a book that's bent up or toy that's been obviously played w/by some kid who had to touch or finding the "right" shirt and noticing some sticky kid handprint on it b/c the child had to touch.

When my children were little, we definitely had a no-touch rule. But at their ages now, 7 and 10, I feel that they are old enough to handle an item as any consumer would. It's not like they're pedaling bikes up and down the aisle (as I've seen many children do), or bouncing balls around. She picked up a tiny TOY GUITAR, and pretended to play it.

And as far as books go, I've never purchased a book without opening it and looking through it. Neither do my kids. But we always have clean hands and are very respectful.

How will they learn HOW to touch if they're never allowed to touch anything? I think that a "no-touch" rule for older children is a little bit much.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

How will they learn HOW to touch if they're never allowed to touch anything? I think that a "no-touch" rule for older children is a little bit much.

Was there not any words on the box, that said lighter? If your child couldn't read the sign, and realize it is something she shouldn't touch, then she is too young to be allowed to touch whatever she wants. Yes- kids need to learn how to touch, but they need to be able to tell what they are touching. Until then they are too young to be allowed to touch whatever.

a 7 Y.O is not an "older child" IMO.

Again, I understand that you are upset. I would be too--but I wouldn't blame the store for my kid doing something they shouldn't. Just be glad she is alright. And use it as a lesson to her to be careful.

 

[Mallory]

They are so freakin' lucky that my baby didn't burn herself.

Sorry, but I have to agree with most of the others. Your "baby" shouldn't have been playing with something that didn't belong to her. Stores spend a fortune each year on merchandise that gets broken by kids playing with it.

 

[MareQ]

Don't you think that the store has ANY responsibility to the safety of its customers?

Obviously they do - but there is also PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Why do you think your coffee from McDonalds now comes with a warning that says "Caution: Contents may be hot". It's because somebody didn't have the common sense to know that she shouldn't put a hot cup of coffee between her legs and decided it was McDonald's fault - not her own.

My children are 4, 6 and 9 - they don't touch anything in a store without asking.

 

[poohandwendy]

Sorry, but I have to agree with most of the others. Your "baby" shouldn't have been playing with something that didn't belong to her. Stores spend a fortune each year on merchandise that gets broken by kids playing with it.

I agree.

My response to the OPs situation would not have been 'They are so freaking lucky my baby didn't burn herself", it would have been "Don't ever touch anything without permission, this is exactly why I tell you that"

 

[MM27]

Many places put their lighters out on the counter. I always wondered about that. 7-11 has them right by the register where a child could touch them. As far as the cashier, he/she probably has no say in where the merchandise goes.

 

[maxiesmom]

Come on! It is all well and good to tell your child no-touchie, but I'm sure no one has a perfect child, who would never forget that rule. Fact is the store should not have things that look like toys, that are actually dangerous, up by the checkouts. Well within the reach of little-ones. That is like saying the store could put guns out and not be responsible if a child shot themselves. Accidents do happen, and children do handle things, even when they have been told not to. Sounds like a stupid decison on the store's part.

I think it is pretty resonable to expect a store to keep something that shoots fire out of reach of children.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Lighters come in all sorts of fun shapes and sizes here. They are on the counter at every store that sells them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Lighters come in all sorts of fun shapes and sizes here. They are on the counter at every store that sells them.

Most of the stores around here keep them behind the counter, with the cigarettes. Which seems smart to me!

 

[Disney4Drew]

Come on! It is all well and good to tell your child no-touchie, but I'm sure no one has a perfect child, who would never forget that rule. Fact is the store should not have things that look like toys, that are actually dangerous, up by the checkouts. Well within the reach of little-ones. That is like saying the store could put guns out and not be responsible if a child shot themselves. Accidents do happen, and children do handle things, even when they have been told not to. Sounds like a stupid decison on the store's part.

I think it is pretty resonable to expect a store to keep something that shoots fire out of reach of children.

I completely agree.