A Warning About Crazy Bands

I’m not the kind of mom to follow trends, so I was a little slow on the uptake on the whole crazy bands (aka Silly Bandz) fad. In fact, I didn’t quite get the scope of their popularity until this school year, because we don’t allow kids to wear jewelry, and, well, let’s just say it’s the middle of September and, as a teacher, I could make a killing selling the ones I’ve confiscated on the kiddie black market.

So maybe you’re like me and don’t know what these things are. Let me catch you up.They’re brightly colored plastic bracelets shaped like various things (animals, letters, vegetables) worn by kids of all ages (yes, my nephew who is a senior in high school and a star on his football team wears them). And, to be totally, super cool, you wear as many as you can fit on your wrist without impeding your ability to lift your arm. They also now make rings using the same concept.

My daughter Liv just got wind of this craze, so we do have a few in our house. But not many. Sometimes absentmindedness can work in your favor.

My brother, however, has three girls ages 15, 8 and 3. So of course he’s practically tripping over them. He’s found them in the shower drain, the house plants, and in the stuff dogs leave in the backyard. If he could, he’d ban them, but he chooses his battles, which is wise of a man with three girls.

But that all changed the other night. Being a police officer, he knows about hazards to kids, and doesn’t let them wear or even take these plastic things to bed. Somehow, however, the 3-year-old got one of the rings past him, put it on her wrist, and fell asleep. By morning, her had was quadruple in size and there was a divot where the ring was. He massaged her hand until feeling came back, but by noon the swelling hadn’t gone down so they headed to the doctor.

X-rays showed blood was flowing to the hand but the vein that carries blood back to the heart was partially collapsed. A few more hours and she would have lost her hand. The vein should recover on its own, in four to six weeks. In the mean time, he’ll have to closely monitor the progress. If things begin looking badly, they’ll need to admit her and put her on a blood thinner, which will require putting her out (for reasons I don’t understand).

As if this all isn’t scary enough, the doctor said she’s seeing this more and more on different parts of children’s bodies. Because the bands are stretchy, they don’t hurt at first. Kids put them on ankles, wrists, upper arms, etc. and fall asleep. And before they know it, the bands constrict and the problems begin. Lest you suppose I've fallen prey to an urban legend, even Snopes is on to this, with a graphic picture of a 4-year-old's arm to back up the "True" status.

I’m writing this to warn you, not to scare you. Make sure you take these bracelets and rings away from your kids before bedtime or bathtime. Have a spot you always put them, and a ritual for putting them there, so it doesn’t get forgotten. Liv now puts hers on the mantle, and I count them to make sure none are wandering around. I don’t think she’d intentionally sneak them past me, but she’s 7 and thinks she’s invincible.

While you're at it, talk to your kids about good places to wear them and unsafe places and times to wear them. Don’t think teenagers are immune, either. My nephew, the honor roll football star? He tried to fit one over his head.

I’m just sayin'.

By Sharon Linde, Education Blogger for SmartParenting