Helpful Tips To Keep Your Toddler Safe Around The House

Any parent will know toddlers can be a handful.  With their newfound independence allowing them to walk or crawl by themselves, these energetic young children are driven by their curiosity and a thirst to explore the world around them.

While this is an exciting time, it can also come with some trepidation for parents. Eager to assert themselves, toddlers are full of enthusiasm and not afraid to try something new. As a parent, you may feel the need to keep your toddler under constant supervision to keep them out of harm’s way.

In this article, we will outline some safety tips to help you balance your child’s need to express their intrepid nature alongside your desire to keep them safe.

Kitchen Safety

With an array of sharp objects and hot appliances, the kitchen is full of potential dangers for a small child. However, many of these risks can be easily eliminated by taking the following safety measures:

• Place child safety covers on stove knobs and use back burners when cooking, turning the handles of all pots and pans away to prevent your child from grabbing them
• Install safety latches on drawers and cupboards containing sharp items such as food processor blades, knives and scissors
• Keep refrigerator magnets out of reach to prevent your child swallowing or choking on them
• Safely store dangerous liquids and cleaning products in a child-proof cabinet
• Keep ingredients such as spices safely out of reach as they can cause asphyxiation
• Keep aluminum foil, and saran wrap dispensers away from your child to prevent the serrated edges from cutting their fingers
• Unplug electrical items, such as kettles, toasters and blenders, when not in use

Bathroom Safety

When bathing your toddler, remember to always keep an eye on them. Leaving them unattended can leave them at risk of burning themselves or drowning as a small child can drown in even a small amount of water. A non-slip bath mat can also reduce the risk of your child slipping and injuring themselves.

Bath water should be no more than waist level and make sure the water is at a safe temperature before putting your child in the tub.  Aim for around 100 degrees Fahrenheit and use a thermometer if you are unsure.  To prevent your child from turning a faucet on and scalding themselves, you can install an anti-scalding device that can help to regulate the water pressure making sure there are no large temperature fluctuations.

Make sure the toilet seat is down and keep it locked when not in use. This will prevent the risk of drowning, and keep your child from blocking the toilet with a toy or other item. In addition to the risk of drowning, ensure all electrical items are stored safely away in child-proof cabinets. The cords of hair dryers and electric shavers can pose the risk of strangulation if left lying about.

Keep medications out of reach and locked away as well as dangerous liquids such as mouth wash, bleach and other cleaning products. Sharp items including razors, tweezers and scissors should also be stored away in child-proof drawers or cabinets.

Fit a childproof cover on the bathroom doorknob to prevent your child from locking themselves in. It is also a good idea to fit a lock for which you have an emergency key, just in case they manage to do this.

Safety Around the House

When it comes to navigating the rest of the house here are some tips for keeping your child safe:

• Child-proof electrical sockets with outlet covers to prevent the chance of an electric shock
• Small objects such as toy pieces, marbles, coins and batteries can pose a choking hazard so make sure to pick these up if you see them
• Install safety gates at the top of the staircase to prevent a fall
• Keep blind and other cords safely out of reach to prevent the risk of strangulation
• Securely anchor all tall or large pieces of furniture that your child could try to climb
• Fit child-proof window locks to prevent the risk of your child climbing out of the window and falling
• Fit corner guards to the edges of cabinets and furniture to reduce the risk of injury to your child
• Fit grip pads underneath rugs to prevent your child from slipping and falling
• Never leave matches within reach of your child or candles left burning unattended

By following the advice in this article, you can feel safe to let your little one roam around and explore the world around them.