Toddlers are fun people to watch. They are exploring a brand new world. However, their maturing minds cannot quite grasp the concept of danger. Not only can your toddler be in danger, but also your special heirlooms, favorite pricey candles and delicate houseplants.
How can you prevent your home sweet home from disaster as well as protect your toddler from possible danger?
- Secure the area. Anchor floor lamps to the ground, or simply remove them to another room. These lamps can easily topple over onto an unsuspecting toddler and can cause damage to the child, lamp and home. Also, secure table lamp cords so they cannot be pulled down onto the ground.
- Watch out for sharp edges. Toddlers are known to be quite clumsy. They can easily trip and hit their head or face on the sharp edges of a coffee table, piano bench or hearth. Pad these down with cushions or corner covers. Also consider simply packing away the coffee table until your kiddo is a little older.
- Keep valuables out of reach. Got some special candles or porcelain figurines? Consider displaying these in a glass cabinet or packing them away for a few years. With all the running, giggling and playing, little toddlers are infamous for breaking small, decorative items that may be special to someone’s heart. Little pieces of glass or porcelain are also choking hazards as well as can cause cuts and puncture wounds to your small child.
- Toss out the house-plants. Kids like dirt, and houseplants have dirt. It’s like a kid-magnet! Not only is dirt a messy problem, but with little ones around, it can be a hazardous problem. Small children like to taste everything — dirt included. Some of your favorite plants may be poisonous if consumed. If you like the natural look that houseplants bring, invest in some artificial ones. In just a few years, you can bring real plants back inside the home.
- Screen it! If you use a fireplace in your home, ensure there is a safety screen around the hearth. Ashes and fire are both a danger to roaming, curious toddlers. If you enjoy lighting candles around your home, keep them out of reach of your kiddos as well. Many housefires are caused by unattended candles.
- Shorten cords. If you use window blinds in your home, check all the cords to ensure they are out of reach of small children. These can be dangerous choking hazards.
- Keep it clean. Throughout the busyness of the day, the living room can become littered with toys, books and shoes. Small objects can quickly become choking hazards. Keep all balloons stored away from little hands. All toys that come with batteries should be monitored as well. Batteries can develop a dangerous acid that can harm your toddler’s skin. The battery compartment also contains small parts that are choking hazards.
- Cover it up! Keep all outlets covered with child-proof covers. Little fingers can quickly fit into the small holes before you can say, “Don’t touch!”
- Move it! When rearranging your furniture, avoid placing chairs, tables and couches near a window. Toddlers are climbers and may be tempted to open a window.
- Use gates. Placing child-safety gates around your home can protect your toddler from falling down the stairs or venturing off into an unsafe area.
- Pack it up! If you enjoy viewing your memories that were captured in photos, you may want to pack away these precious items for a later date. In just a few minutes, toddlers can have these off the book shelf or coffee table and rip some of the only visible records of special moments in your family’s life. Don’t ask me how I know — wink, wink!
Don’t stifle your toddler’s creativity and adventurous spirit. Instead, provide her a safe environment in which she can explore and roam her brand new world!
Do you have any other safety tips you think moms should know? Share them in the comments section!
