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

[Minnie_me]

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.

Thanks - -I was beginning to think I was insane. I'm so surprised at the number of people who claim that their children never touch anything in stores. I don't see anything wrong with children touching merchandise. It's the freaking Dollar Store - it's not a museum! Most things are in packages, and my kids have never broken anything. Ever.

I'm also shocked that people think it's fine to keep lighters that look exactly like backpack keychains at a child's eye level, and just rely on the child not to touch them.

 

[AKL_Megs]

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"

This is EXACTLY what my mom would have said to me if we were in this situation, and if I HAD burned myself (and I use the term "burn" lightly, because running your skin underneath a lighter for a mere second doesn't BURN the skin, it may cause a little pain, but in no way would it cause permanent damage) my mom would have told me that I shouldn't touch things that weren't mine and that she didn't want to hear about it, maybe next time I will think before I touch.

And in no way is it the stores fault. Go into any gas station, 7-11, or convienience store and you will find an assortment of lighters in every shape you can imagine.

IMO, it's no more the stores fault that your daughter chose to touch the lighter as it would be if a child with peanut allergies decided to open a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and eat it. Is that the stores fault, too?

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm also shocked that people think it's fine to keep lighters that look exactly like backpack keychains at a child's eye level, and just rely on the child not to touch them.

I honestly was too. Because sure as shootin, none of these people shop where I work! Kids handle stuff all of the time, and the parent's couldn't care less. Plush toys go right into the childs mouth, and they hand them to you at check-out, because they were just using them to keep the kid quiet. Icky!

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

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

It does seem like a smart idea.

 

[famofsix]

They had similiar items at the Big Lots years back and I had the same concern as the OP. I did email corporate and I did speak with the manager. Children are implusive and putting a dangerous item within their reach is a safety hazard.

Big Lots did remove the lighters from the counter.

 

[Imzadi]

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.

I travel a lot & have always seen the lighters on the counter. It's one of those convenience purchases, so a smoker can remember he needs one & grab it easily as he's getting his cigarettes, instead of forgetting & driving off without a new lighter.

 

[LukenDC]

I think that the OP has a right to be concerned and she did the right thing in writing to the corporate office. Those lighters sound like a serious liability issue for the store.

 

[schmitty]

Meh no biggie now your kid will look and make sure its not a lighter before she touches stuff at counters now. Good lesson. I dont see your kid as a tyrant or you as a bad parent. Kids that age touch tons of stuff. This is no different and now hopefully your kid learned a lesson about lighters come in many shapes and sizes.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

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. .

No I don't have a perfect child, but I would not blame a store, because MY child is not perfect.

Again, the store should probably keep them out of reach, and they are probably opening themselves to irrate parents, who want to blame them for it.

 

[Minnie_me]

IMO, it's no more the stores fault that your daughter chose to touch the lighter as it would be if a child with peanut allergies decided to open a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and eat it. Is that the stores fault, too?

LOL - that's ridiculous! My DD isn't allergic to fire! FIRE HURTS EVERYONE. Not everyone is allergic to peanuts.

nice try, though.

 

[Val]

I agree that children should look with their eyes....and I have definitely tried to install that in my 4 kids.....OTH, kids are impulsive, and in this lawsuit driven society it seems only common sense to move lighters up and away from curious little fingers. It was a dangerous situation. I would have chastized my child for touching, but ALSO talked to the staff and writing the corporation. It only takes a second for a child to act impulsively, and while we try and teach right from wrong, children are children. Sometimes we need to protect them from themselves. It's one thing to learn "not touch" by losing the candy you wanted you because disobeyed and touched it....it's another to learn "not touch" by setting yourself on fire!

 

[AKL_Megs]

LOL - that's ridiculous! My DD isn't allergic to fire! FIRE HURTS EVERYONE. Not everyone is allergic to peanuts.

nice try, though.

Yeah, well, it's not ridiculous.

If you had TOLD your daughter not to touch things that didn't belong to her, she wouldn't have almost gotten "burned". It's a great comparison on how it is not the stores fault.

It's a LIGHTER anyways, not a flame-thrower.

It's a small lesson of many she will have in her life. She shouldn't have been goofing around with it, whether it should have been out in her reach or not. It's YOUR responsibility to teach your child not to touch every little thing that looks interesting to her. Seriously!

 

[flipturngirl]

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.

I totally agree with you.. there are so many times when we have missing merch because a kid walks off with it.

 

[famofsix]

the worst part is that this lighter was not your typical bic lighter. But the lighter OP described looked like a toy and apparently had no safety mechanism. Most lighters have safety deterants on them for good reason.

 

[famofsix]

she's seven...kids should be given permission to touch merchandise responsibly. My kids shop at the dollar tree and spend their own money. I am not so controlling that I expect them to not touch anything in the store. It is all part of teaching a child to be a responsible consumer. It is irresponsible to put a decorated lighter within the reach of a child at a store that merchandises to families.

 

[Minnie_me]

Yeah, well, it's not ridiculous.

If you had TOLD your daughter not to touch things that didn't belong to her, she wouldn't have almost gotten "burned". It's a great comparison on how it is not the stores fault.

It's a LIGHTER anyways, not a flame-thrower.

It's a small lesson of many she will have in her life. She shouldn't have been goofing around with it, whether it should have been out in her reach or not. It's YOUR responsibility to teach your child not to touch every little thing that looks interesting to her. Seriously!

I still disagree. My child - ANY CHILD - should be able to walk into a store and touch anything without the risk of being BURNED by something that clearly looks like a toy.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

she's seven...kids should be given the choice to touch merchandise responsibly. .

She should be given the choice, once she has shown the maturity to read, and be aware of what she is touching. Until then, she obviously cannot touch merchandise responsibly. Until then it is the parent's responsibility.

 

[famofsix]

She should be given the choice, once she has shown the maturity to read, and be aware of what she is touching. Until then, she obviously cannot touch merchandise responsibly. Until then it is the parent's responsibility.

these lighters were not labled so reading would not help her. She thought it was a toy as did the OP

 

[Minnie_me]

she's seven...kids should be given permission to touch merchandise responsibly. My kids shop at the dollar tree and spend their own money. I am not so controlling that I expect them to not touch anything in the store. It is all part of teaching a child to be a responsible consumer. It is irresponsible to put a decorated lighter within the reach of a child at a store that merchandises to families.

EXACTLY. My kids spend their own money on a routine basis. They are consumers. This is a Dollar Store, where much of the crap is aimed at children.

I wonder about these posters who don't allow their children to touch - - do they also not touch the merchandise? At what point WILL they allow their children to touch things in stores? I just don't understand the big HANDS OFF thing at all.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I still disagree. My child - ANY CHILD - should be able to walk into a store and touch anything without the risk of being BURNED by something that clearly looks like a toy.

I DO see your point, I honestly do. At the same time, you KNOW that no serious harm would have been done if she HAD in fact touched the flame of a lighter, and either way, a good lesson was learned - not to take everything for face value and to BE CAREFUL!

Unfortunately, as much as you want to protect your baby, and I understand that you do, this will not be even close to up there on the most dangerous and worst experiences of her life.

Also, those Dollar General type stores are the tackiest places ever, although I must admit I buy certian little things there in a pinch. I don't think they hold themselves to a high standard.