| Children from age one to age three are | | | | your toddler cannot reach it. The tiniest bit of |
| considered toddlers. It is a time of learning their | | | | alcohol can make a small child very sick and too |
| environment. It is a time for them to explore | | | | much could prove fatal. |
| every corner of every room and everything in | | | | Ok, you get an idea of what to do in the kitchen, |
| between. Remember that the world is new to | | | | now let's head for your bathroom. |
| them and they want to get to know it. | | | | A huge number of accidents occur in the |
| Exploring is a good thing. It is a natural part of | | | | bathroom each year affecting both adults and |
| their growth. As your toddler explores they gain | | | | toddlers. It's a good thing to keep that in mind |
| knowledge, independence, and confidence. It | | | | when preparing your bathroom for safety. |
| teaches them to use all five of their senses. It | | | | Overhead door locks are available to be |
| teaches them how to put things together, how | | | | purchased and used to keep toddlers out of |
| things work, and enlarges their world moment by | | | | rooms that are not in use. You should buy these |
| moment. They should be encouraged to explore | | | | and install them on all bathroom doors. |
| your home, within limits of course. | | | | If you have any low cabinets, get childproof locks |
| It can be very difficult to keep up with your | | | | for those the same as it was advised for you to |
| toddler and they can get from point A to point B | | | | do in your kitchen. All medications, ointments, |
| in the time it takes you to turn around for just a | | | | shampoos, soap, and other products should be |
| second to do your normal daily chores. So you | | | | kept out of your toddler's reach. |
| need to have confidence that your home is safe | | | | Do not leave hairdryers, electric shavers, radios, |
| for your toddler to explore, even when you aren't | | | | and other appliances plugged in. It's a good idea to |
| watching them. | | | | keep those out of reach as well because the |
| In this article, we will explore areas of your home | | | | cords are hazardous to your toddler. |
| and help you identify danger zones, then help you | | | | Fire Departments recommend that your water |
| fix them so your explorer is safe in his new | | | | temperature should be set at 120 degrees. |
| adventures. Remember, in every room of the | | | | Setting your hot water heater higher than that |
| house, get on your hands and knees and look at | | | | produces the danger of scalding. |
| the world from your toddler's point of view. This | | | | Water safety applies in the bathroom, the same |
| will give you a better perspective on the dangers | | | | as it does for any pool area. A child can easily |
| that lurk there. | | | | drown in your bathroom. It only takes two inches |
| Let's start where your toddler starts his or her | | | | of water to create a drowning hazard. Do not |
| day, their bedroom. | | | | leave the tub full of water and buy locks for your |
| Is the glass in your toddler's bedroom made of | | | | toilet seat. Not only can those save your toddler |
| tempered glass? Non-Tempered glass is | | | | from drowning, it can also help you avoid the |
| dangerous, because it does not break into the | | | | headaches of learning the types of things your |
| tiny pieces that safety glass does. If your | | | | toddler can find to plug the toilet with. |
| toddler's windows are non-tempered, you can | | | | Your toddler should never be alone in the |
| either have new window glass installed or apply | | | | bathroom. If you are bathing them and have to |
| security film to them. The film is a much less | | | | leave, dry them off and take them with you. |
| expensive solution and binds the pieces of glass | | | | Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes. |
| together if the window is ever broken. | | | | Your toddler will also spend a lot of time in your |
| Also, window locks are an essential item to have | | | | family room, den, or living room, so let's explore |
| throughout the house, including your toddler's | | | | that area before we allow them to. |
| room. They allow a window to be open, but not | | | | Do you have plants? These seemingly harmless |
| too far. Never leave the window open more than | | | | and decorative plants may pose a very |
| four inches. Gates with vertical slats can also help | | | | dangerous problem for your child. Are you sure |
| prevent your toddler from falling out of the | | | | that none of your plants are poisonous? Look up |
| window. Screens will not hold them! | | | | information about your plants in an encyclopedia, |
| Placing your toddler's bed or crib in the proper | | | | online, or consult a poison control center to be |
| place is also important. Experts recommend the | | | | sure. |
| space between the bars be no wider than two | | | | Do you have a fireplace? You can purchase |
| and three-eighths inches apart. Do not place your | | | | guards for fireplaces at many stores. Glass fire |
| toddler's crib or other furniture under the window | | | | screens are not acceptable. They get very hot |
| or near baseboard or other heaters. | | | | and can burn your toddler if they touch it. Make |
| Items left in the crib need to be at a minimum. | | | | sure you create a safe area around the fireplace |
| Make sure your toddler cannot stack or use | | | | and that your toddler cannot get into it. Where |
| those items to get out of their crib. You might be | | | | they can go, they will and the fireplace is an |
| surprised how inventive your toddler can be when | | | | obvious hazard, whether it is lit or not. |
| he or she wants to get somewhere. You'll turn | | | | Make sure all the doors in your house are safe. If |
| around and find them in some of the most | | | | they have metal doorstops, replace them with |
| impossible spots you can imagine. | | | | doorstops that are made entirely of rubber. |
| Look around for any cords or other dangerous | | | | Doorstops are inviting to young children who play |
| items. As your toddler gets more mobile these | | | | on the floor. |
| items present a great danger to them. Make sure | | | | As difficult as it sounds, all furniture should be |
| you tie all cords and similar items well out of their | | | | placed away from the windows. Windows pose a |
| reach. Any item that is longer than seven inches | | | | danger to your toddler and they will climb the |
| can be a danger to your toddler. Make sure they | | | | furniture before you know it. |
| cannot get to them and remember your toddler | | | | Is any of your furniture easy to tip over? Floor |
| will be more inventive and curious than you might | | | | lamps and other items, which can be turned over |
| think. | | | | easily, are dangerous. Either get rid of them or |
| Of course, all medications, baby powder, lotion, | | | | secure them to a wall somehow. |
| and other items must be kept out of reach or | | | | Also, if your furniture in any room of the house |
| stored in a childproof cabinet in your toddler's | | | | has sharp corners, something needs to be done |
| room. | | | | about it. Either purchase furniture without sharp |
| Do not use extension cords in your toddler's | | | | corners or buy cushions that can be placed over |
| room or anywhere else in the house where they | | | | the corners. You can also make your own. Just |
| can reach them. The danger of strangulation or | | | | be sure it's well padded so the corner cannot |
| electrocution is very real and should be taken | | | | cause serious injury. |
| seriously. Make sure you buy protective covers | | | | If you have a home office, I could write a whole |
| for all outlets. Having the outlets installed higher up | | | | article about the dangers for your toddler there. |
| the wall, out of reach of your toddler is an even | | | | Use the overhead door locks to keep your |
| better solution and much more convenient for | | | | toddler out of your office if possible. That's the |
| you. | | | | best advice and might save you having to do a |
| Hiding outlets behind furniture that your toddler | | | | lot of work over again after your toddler gets |
| cannot move or get behind is another solution until | | | | through with it. |
| you can do more. The advice on electrical outlets | | | | Do you take your toddler into your bedroom? |
| also applies to the rest of the house so I won't | | | | Make sure all lower drawers and cabinets have |
| be covering that again for every room. | | | | childproof locks on them, closet doors have |
| Parents and toddlers both spend a lot of time in | | | | overhead locks, and any chests or other items |
| the kitchen, so we'll go there next. | | | | are also locked. |
| Emergency phone numbers should be located | | | | Jewelry is especially dangerous for your toddler to |
| everywhere there is a phone, including the kitchen. | | | | get their hands on. Cosmetics can be poisonous. |
| In a time of stress it is difficult to think straight or | | | | Sharp objects like manicure sets or sewing kits |
| find phone books and the phone numbers you | | | | can also be dangerous. Again, make sure all cords |
| need, so keep them handy at all times. | | | | are tied up where they are out of your toddler's |
| Not just for toddler safety, but for all homes, | | | | reach. |
| there should be a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. | | | | Do you have older children? Let's see what |
| Take care of that right away, especially if you | | | | hazards wait in their bedrooms. |
| are a parent. | | | | You are probably careful about the types of toys |
| Toddlers love to climb into things like cabinets, | | | | you buy for your toddler, but are you careful to |
| your dishwasher, stove, and refrigerators. Make | | | | make sure they don't get their little hands on the |
| sure the dishwasher is always latched. Use | | | | toys you buy for your older children? You will |
| childproof locks on your cabinet doors and on | | | | need your older children to assist you in keeping |
| your refrigerator. They even make latches for | | | | their toys out of your toddler's reach. This is a |
| your oven. | | | | very difficult task, but you have to remember |
| Speaking of the oven, maybe the most | | | | toys made for older children can harm younger |
| dangerous spot in the kitchen for your curious | | | | ones. |
| toddler use a stove guard to protect them. A | | | | Are there stairs in your home? |
| stove guard keeps them from being able to reach | | | | You will need to purchase gates for the top and |
| the burners. Cook on your back burners | | | | bottom of the staircase if you have a toddler in |
| whenever possible. If the controls for the stove | | | | your home. This is a must. They should have |
| are placed on the front of the stove, you will | | | | vertical slats no more than two and three-eighths |
| need to remove them. | | | | inches apart and should be sturdy and secure. |
| Train yourself to not use any lower cabinets like | | | | Finding a way to bolt them to the walls is best. |
| under the sink to store hazardous products. Even | | | | If your banisters have more than four inches of |
| soap is dangerous. Many soaps contain lye and | | | | space between supports, then you will have to |
| can poison your child. This applies to all rooms | | | | solve that issue as well. You can use particle |
| where you store products, including the laundry | | | | board, plywood, plastic or other sheeted product |
| room. Remember, if it can be reached, it will be | | | | to cover those areas and keep your toddler from |
| reached. | | | | slipping between supports and onto the stairs |
| Now do the same for all sharp objects like knives, | | | | alone. |
| forks, scissors, pizza cutters, and ice picks. Train | | | | This article in no way covers all the things you will |
| yourself to put these items away every time you | | | | need to do to make your home a safe place for |
| use them. | | | | your toddler to explore, but it is our hope we |
| If you keep liquor in the kitchen or have a bar in | | | | have gotten you in the right frame of mind to |
| your house where they are kept, make sure | | | | find the rest on your own. |