Mishap with 3-year-old DS at a Hilton – WWYD? (sorry, long)

[Anonymous]

I agree with the CPSC. They keep track of incidents and ask for warning labels or recall as they see fit. Had the child tried to climb out of the chair with his head stuck or entered from the other side, he could compromise his airway. The strangulation hazard is usually when they lose their footing, not just from sticking their heads through things.

[Anonymous]

I question the validity of this whole story as there is no such thing as a "pretty nice" Hilton.

[Anonymous]

Kids do a lot of really dumb things because they are kids. Some kids are more curious or spirited than others and some will look at you and do the exact opposite of what you just said. Others just have more common sense and self-preservation than others. Having said that I don't necessarily think OP was neglecting her duties to supervise the child, nor do I think she needs to really do anything further at this point other than reiterate to the kid that "this is why we don't do X. When a grown says to do [or not do] something you need to listen because know things you don't know and we want to keep you safe." I'm sure the hotel staff will be talking about that dumb kid in room 307 or whatever for YEARS.

[Anonymous]

OP, sorry you went through this.

I think you should report the incident to the CPSC. It's not like getting Hilton or even the chair manufacturer "in trouble"--they will log the incident and look into it. If there is something really head-entrapping about the cut out, they'll take action. If not, they'll chock it up to freak accident like so many other things.

[Anonymous]

When I was in 3rd grade, I got stuck in my desk because I would read with my legs curled up in it and one day, I literally could not get out. Holynshit, that was embarrassing. All the kids were looking at me like I was a damn fool, and the super had to put grease on my legs to pull me out. Awful day, but my desk was never intended to be a lounge!

Things like that happen unfortunately and kids are just prone to do that stuff! The chair was not intended for kids and posed nom serious safety hazard. That said, those of you who are chastising OP for not watching her kids must be high. I watch my kids like a hawk yet somehow my 18 month old managed to pour lotion all over the rug in a blink of an eye

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here --

thanks, everyone for your responses.

just to clarify -- both DH and I were watching our son at the time. Literally looking at him. DS was sitting in the chair eating a snack, then he turned around and -- whoosh -- in a matter of a second slid his head through the chair hole.

also to be clear -- I don't have grand expectations of the hotel protecting my child. I'm not saying the hotel owes us anything. I'm just saying I'm worried for children my son's age/size staying that that hotel. If my son wasn't so calm, if he bucked at the wrong moment, that very scary power saw could have cut him, causing serious injury.

Okay, so it was the method of removing the chair that you have issue with then? I thought your issue was with the chair? Maybe it's just your pregnancy hormones.

[Anonymous]

Its upsetting to you that this happens but when I leave my house I have absolutely no expectation that any place have baby/toddler proofing and bring my own supplies from a portable high chair/disposable placemat to outlet covers and other supplies for hotel rooms. It is nice when places are child friendly but its not their job - its our job as parents to do the best we can to protect them. If the chair was deemed unsafe by you, your toddler should not have been sitting on it and if it was that hazardous, you could have asked if they could remove it from the room. Even at Disney, which is very child friendly, their rooms were not child proof though they did their best to come up with baby proofing (i.e. outlet covers) which is when we learned to travel with our own.

I think you are lucky if they didn't ask you to pay for the chair.

[Anonymous]

I am glad your child is ok. I hope you took a picture with his head in there bc that is a fantastic story to share one day...like at his wedding ot something.