Keeping a toddler safe is a never-ending responsibility. Toddlers are impulsive and curious. These two characteristics alone add up to a “walking accident waiting to happen.”
Accidents in the home and car are the leading cause of death among 1- to 5-year-olds. According to safety experts, 50 to 90 percent of all serious accidents suffered by babies and toddlers in their homes could have been prevented if the house had been thoroughly childproofed.
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There are several things you can do help your moving toddler stay safe.
In the kitchen
- Never put a hot beverage near the counter edge.
- Avoid foods with a high choking hazard such as hard candy, popcorn, grapes, etc.
- Remove tablecloths to stop baby from pulling things down.
- Keep plastic bags out of reach to prevent suffocation.
- Keep cupboards and drawers locked with safety locks to hinder curiosity.
- Turn pot and pan handles on stove to back wall to prevent baby from grabbing things that will burn.
Around the house
- Attach a set of chimes to the door to indicate if the baby tries to get outside.
- Place mirrors strategically around the house to see where the baby is when you are not able to be in the room.
- Screw bookcases to the wall.
- Put colored decals on glass doors at your baby’s level so she notices the glass.
- Keep toys off of the stairs.
- Keep the bathroom door shut as a baby can actually drown in the toilet.
- Never leave your child alone in a bathtub or wading pool as babies can drown in 1 inch of water.
- Put protectors on sharp corners to prevent unwanted bumps and bruises.
- Keep doors closed to prevent your baby’s curiosity from taking him or her to unsafe areas.
- Toys should not have sharp edges or points.
Out and about
- Keep your purse out of reach. Your purse has so many tiny objects for baby to explore and potentially choke on.
- Be sure the safety seat is correctly installed in the back seat of all vehicles.
- Be sure your baby wears an approved safety helmet when riding in a seat on adult bikes.
- Keep balloons out of reach (inflated or uninflated). Baby could put the balloon in his or her mouth and if it pops, he or she can suffocate on a piece that becomes lodged in his or her throat.
More
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- Keeping your kids safe and warm in winter
- Ten children’s hospitals now sharing genomic medicine
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Posted In Children's, Health Information
