I use a regular needle, and have never had a problem – zero pricked fingers. We do have a couple rules: you have to sit right next to mom, and you have to SIT the entire time you use it. If you get up or want to move around, you have to put your needle in your fabric and stick everything in a safe place FIRST. I feel like it’s actually safer than a blunt needle if you are using proper fabric – a blunt needle would require more pressure to push through fabric, and therefore there would be more pressure if it went into, say, an eye. Blunt needles are best for plastic canvas or the very loose weave that is used for cross stitch.