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Safety around your child
After 9-12 months of age, a child becomes more and more mobile. A toddler will continuously run around and explore the environment. No matter the age of a child, the curiosity of discovering new things and places is part of the human nature. Making secure the environment of a small child is the first thing to do in order to protect him/her against any possible dangers. Here is a checklist going over potential risks to be addressed in a house with small children:
For the whole house:
Make sure all outlets have safety covers. Keep electrical cords short and out of reach.
Position safety gates to block access to stairs and other dangerous areas.
Install locks to prevent sliding windows from opening wide enough for a child to fit through. Do not rely on screens to prevent a child from falling through the window opening.
Keep window covering cords out of children’s reach by adjusting to their shortest length. Do not position cribs and beds within reach of windows or window treatments.
Use safety latches on cabinets and drawers where medicines or hazardous household products are stored. Keep all medicines, including creams, in child-resistant containers. Store hazardous products in their original containers with original labels.
Remove choking hazards by keeping small items such as coins, pins, marbles, tacks, buttons or small batteries out of children’s reach.
Do not allow small children to play with balloons or any form of plastic bags due to suffocation hazard.
Do not use (long) tablecloths on tables. Accidents may happen causing heavy objects to fall or hot liquids to spill onto the child.
Remove poisonous plants from your home.
In the kitchen:
In general, a small child should be observed all the time and this is mostly true for the kitchen.
Small and sharp objects, detergents and other cleaning substances should be either locked or kept in high placed cabinets, where the child can not reach them.
Lock all cabinets and drawers containing glass, knives, scissors, and other small objects.
Use the back burners on the stove and turn all pot handles towards the back of the stove.
Keep containers that have hot drinks inside away from the edge of tables.
Move all glassed items in the refrigerator to the higher shelf.
Never hold or pass hot liquids over your child.
In the bathroom:
Set the hot water heater at a maximum of 120 degrees F. It only takes 2 seconds for a scald to occur if the water is 140 degrees F. Always check bath water temperature before putting a child in the tub.
Never leave your toddler in the bathtub alone, even for a short time (for instance to answer the phone). Toddlers can drown in as little as two inches of water when they fall face down.
Lock up cabinets containing perfumes, make-up, and other similar bathroom items.
In the bedroom:
Use a safe crib with a snug fitting mattress that cannot get pulled away from the corners. You should not be able to fit more than two fingers between the edge of the mattress and the crib. Make sure the crib has no areas with gaps more than 2 inches so the child’s head cannot get stuck.
Make sure closets can be opened from the inside, so that your toddler doesn’t get locked in.
Never lock a toddler into a room.
Outside the house:
If you have a pool it has to be completely surrounded by a fence, with a gate and a lock.
Never leave your child unobserved, especially in crowded places.
Educate your child from an early age (2.5 – 3.5 years) to stay away from strangers and to always run to or call for the parents when strangers try to give him presents (sweets or toys) and/or take her with them.
Other general measures:
Remember that older children may open closed doors, cabinets and drawers and (involuntarily) expose the younger child to dangers that otherwise would be inaccessible. When you have older children in your house, keep all of them, all the time, under observation.
Keep the Poison Control phone number always at hand. Have your Primary Doctor phone number in your pocket at all times. Make sure you always have an available functional vehicle in case of a needed emergent transportation.
Safety is a real important issue for small children. This list will give you plenty of ideas how to improve the safety of your child’s environment so you can enjoy all of the happiness of spending time with your healthy child.
Dr. Florin Vlasie, M.D.
Board Certified Pediatrician
1425 West H Street, Suite 330 • Oakdale, CA 95361
(209) 848-8133
Now accepting new patients. Most Insurances accepted. Late hours and same day appointments available.
