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