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