A Russian parenting influencer is facing intense backlash and possible legal consequences after posting a video in which she vacuum-sealed her young son inside a plastic bag as part of what she described as a “parenting experiment.”
The 47-second clip, shared on December 7 by 36-year-old Saratov blogger, shows her placing her son—estimated to be between four and six years old—into a large, transparent storage bag before using a handheld vacuum pump to remove the air. The video, originally posted to her channels on VK and YouTube, has since been deleted but continues to circulate widely across social media.
In the footage, the plastic quickly tightens around the child’s body. Within seconds, the boy appears visibly distressed, flailing slightly and shouting “Mama!” in panic. Saparina stops the pump and opens the bag, reassuring the gasping child while laughing and referring to the stunt as a playful test to see “how long kids can handle a doggie high.”
She later joked in the caption, “Cutting off the oxygen supply for a few seconds—what could go wrong? Just kidding, it’s all safe and fun!”
The video ignited immediate and fierce criticism. Users called the act “child abuse disguised as content,” with one commenter labeling Saparina a “disgusting child abuser who belongs in jail.” Others said the incident reflected a broader trend of dangerous stunts performed for algorithms that reward shock value.
The outrage spread globally, with reposts appearing in multiple languages and hashtags such as #ChildAbuse and #RussianMom briefly trending in parts of Europe. International media, including Al Bawaba and Athens Times, quickly picked up the story.
Experts warn that the experiment was far from harmless. Pediatric research, including studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics, shows that vacuum-sealed environments can cause rapid oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide buildup, thereby creating a high risk of hypoxia. For children, the danger is amplified due to smaller lung capacity and faster metabolic rates.
Key risks include:
Loss of breathable oxygen in under 15 seconds
Panic, dizziness, and rapid heart rate after only 10–20 seconds
Potential for fatal suffocation in under 30 seconds
Long-term psychological trauma, including claustrophobia and anxiety
The U.S. CDC cites plastic bag suffocation as a continuing cause of toddler deaths each year, and Russia’s own health agencies advise against any enclosed-air play for children under eight.
The bag Saparina used—non-food-grade and not designed for human use—added risks of tearing or off-gassing chemicals.
By the evening of December 7, Saratov’s child protection services acknowledged receiving multiple complaints and confirmed they were reviewing the case. Local media reports that the investigation may include home visits and psychological assessments of the child.
Possible penalties range from mandatory parenting courses to the removal of the child from the home or criminal charges under Article 156 for failure to fulfill parental duties. This charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years.
As of now, Saparina has not issued a public apology. She removed the video but continues posting unrelated content.
In Russia, where declining birth rates and heavy promotion of family values intersect with a booming parenting-blogger economy, critics argue the platform ecosystem incentivizes extremes without adequate oversight.