A mortician who has witnessed the devastating consequences of toy-related accidents has issued a stark warning to parents, revealing the three playthings she has banned from her own home.
A Mortician's Chilling Experiences
Lauren Taylor, a funeral director from Florida, has seen what she describes as "too much" throughout her career. Drawing from her professional experiences, she has taken to social media to highlight the hidden dangers of certain popular children's items. With over 850,000 followers on TikTok under the handle @laurenthemortician, she uses her platform to share sobering safety messages.
"I'm a scarred funeral director and we don't allow fidget spinners in our home," Lauren stated in a recent video. She expressed a wish that the risks associated with these toys were discussed more openly. Her primary concern is that small parts can detach easily, creating a severe choking hazard for young children.
The Three Banned Toys and Their Risks
Lauren has identified three specific types of toys she considers too risky for her children.
Fidget Spinners: Lauren shared a harrowing X-ray image of a 10-year-old girl who had a piece of a fidget spinner lodged in her throat. The child required life-threatening surgery to have the object removed after putting the component in her mouth to clean it. Lauren emphasised that versions which light up often contain button batteries, compounding the danger with the risk of battery ingestion, which can cause catastrophic internal burns.
Water Beads: Often marketed in the United States as sensory play items for toddlers and used in some schools, water beads are also on Lauren's banned list. These tiny, super-absorbent polymer balls can expand to many times their original size if swallowed, leading to intestinal blockages.
Skipping Ropes: The third item Lauren prohibits is the humble skipping rope. "I've seen too many trauma deaths involving them and I can never unsee it," she explained to the Mirror, alluding to accidents involving strangulation or other serious injuries.
Parental Vigilance and Facing Criticism
Lauren acknowledges that monitoring children is challenging, especially in households with multiple youngsters. "Accidents happen very, very fast," she stressed, urging parents to simply throw away potentially dangerous items rather than take the risk.
Her strong stance has not been without controversy. She has faced online criticism, with some accusing her of being an overprotective parent who keeps her children "in bubbles." Others have labelled her "awful" for her protective measures.
However, Lauren remains resolute. She views scrutinising her children's Christmas lists as one of the simplest and most effective steps she can take to ensure their safety. "They're not worth the risk," she concluded about the banned toys, standing by her mission to prevent other families from experiencing the tragedies she has encountered in her profession.
