Safety for Infants and Toddlers

There’s nothing like having a mobile infant rolling, crawling, or toddling around to alert you to all the potential dangers in your home. Suddenly, every table, houseplant, bookshelf, and Lego piece can seem like an accident waiting to happen. But with some advance planning and safety measures in place, your home can be a secure space for play and exploration.Having a safe place for your infant to move and explore is central to their development. Infants are curious about their world and love to learn about it at every opportunity. Providing a safe place for your infant to play not only enriches their curiosity, but also makes playtime less stressful for you—especially when you don’t have to constantly say “no” to touching things!

Room to Play

Different rooms present different challenges for parents in terms of “childproofing.” Often parents find potential hazards by getting down on their hands and knees and crawling around the house to get the baby’s perspective. In addition, creating a checklist can help keep you organized. Here are some room-by-room safety tips:

Kitchen:

There’s so much to do and see in the kitchen for little ones! Unfortunately, some of it is not very safe. Keep anything harmful out of reach, either in high places or lockable cupboards. This includes: sharp objects or utensils, matches, plastic bags, glassware, household cleaners, and medicine. Other safety tips include:

• Turn pot handles toward the rear of the stove
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy
• Cover electrical outlets
• Store pet food out of reach
• Install cabinet locks, and store soaps and other cleaners in a locked cabinet
• Offer your child a lower cabinet drawer to play in filled with only baby-safe items

Living Room:

Make sure your living room is safe for your infant by checking for any unstable or fragile furniture. Infants love to use furniture to pull themselves up or hang on to. You may need to secure heavy furniture, like bookcases, to the wall by using a furniture strap or anchor. Ideally, the TV and video equipment are out of reach, including the cords. More tips include:

• Install a smoke detector
• Cover sharp corners with foam corner guards
• Remove any poisonous plants from the home
• Cover electrical outlets
• Keep small objects (choking hazards) less than 1½ inches wide, including pennies, hard foods, candy, or buttons out of reach

For a list of safe, nontoxic plants, visit: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/outreach/oregon-poison-center/upload/Non-Toxic-Plants.pdf

Bathroom:

If your water baby loves splashing around in the tub, take extra precautions to ensure that your child is never alone in the bathroom. In addition to keeping a watchful eye, try these safety tips:

• Set your hot water heater to 140°F
• Consider purchasing a faucet guard
• Put a lock on the medicine cabinet
• Keep razors and scissors out of reach
• Use a toilet lid lock to keep little hands out of the toilet
• Keep the bathroom door shut whenever the room is not in use

Bedroom:

If your child is in their own room, inspect the room to make sure only safe toys are out to play with—not always easy when there are older siblings in the picture. Make sure only age-appropriate toys are accessible. As a general rule, any object that fits through a toilet paper tube is considered a choking hazard. Remove small Legos, marbles, or small cars from the room and encourage your other children to play with them in another area of the home or only when under close supervision by an adult. It’s also a good idea to check your toys for any malfunctions or broken parts. Other safety tips include:

• Install a smoke detector
• Keep the baby crib away from the window
• Cover electrical outlets
• Keep diapering materials close to changing table
• Cover any sharp corners

Outdoor Safety:

As the weather warms up, it’s tempting to spend as much time as possible soaking in the sun. Remember that infants and young children have incredibly sensitive skin. If your infant is under 12-months old, limit their direct sunlight exposure and consider using hats and sunscreen, and finding shady spots to play in. Check with your pediatrician to determine the best SPF for your child’s age. In addition to sun safety, be mindful of the following areas of your front or backyard:

• Swimming Pools: Children need constant adult supervision around swimming pools. Remind your older children to “walk, don’t run” around the pool and keep your little ones in a certified, weight-appropriate life jacket. Any standing water is considered a drowning hazard and potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Play Equipment: At the beginning of the summer season, check your outdoor play equipment for signs of wear and tear, including sharp edges or splintered wood. Supervise infants and toddlers around swings, especially if big brother or big sister is swinging on them.

• Barbeques: Make sure your barbeque is secure and cannot tip over, and store matches, lighters and fuel out of reach. When your gas barbeque is in use, place a cover over the panel or block it so the knobs cannot be accessed.

Childproofing your home can seem overwhelming and getting started can be half the battle. Make the process easier by working through one room at a time, making simple changes in the rooms your child spends the most time in. Having a safe place for your child to explore is not only beneficial for their wellbeing, but will also provide you with some piece of mind. Happy exploring! This article is brought to you by Parenting Now! Parenting Educators and authors Amanda Bedortha, Claire Davis and Lynne Swartz and consultant Jay Thompson (andupdatemywebsite.com).  Parenting Now! is passionate about happy, healthy families. For more information about Parenting Now! please visit their website (https://parentingnow.org/) or contact us at info@parentingnow.org

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