When It Comes To Your Toddler Think Safety!

When it comes to your toddler there are hidden dangers lurking everywhere. Toddlers are busy exploring and learning. It’s a wonderful time in their development. Just be sure to practice toddler safety!

You should have gates on all stairs top and bottom, as well as on all exits if there is a risk. You should also make sure windows have locks on them so a child cannot open it, fall out, and seriously hurt themselves or worse yet.

It wasn’t long ago where we heard of a young toddler who plunged to their death after falling out of a window of a fifth floor apartment. How tragic!

You also need to place latches on all your cabinets. Parents often place a latch on cupboards that hold cleaning products forgetting that other cupboards can pose hazards too. What about that hook on that bowl that your toddler is busy trying to break loose? It’s a choking hazard. How about the sharp handle on the pot? It’s a poking hazard. Play it safe and lock up all the cabinets.

Do not leave children unattended near a pool or pond. In fact make sure the fence surrounding the area is too tall for the child to climb over and that the gate is securely latched. How many times have we heard the tragedy of a toddler drawing in a pool because no one saw them wonder off. It only takes a second!

During a get together or birthday party make sure there is a designated adult to watch over your toddler. This may seem silly but it’s not. Toddler’s are curios little creatures and with all the activity and the excitement they can get themselves into trouble very quickly.

A lighter left down unintentionally, or a hot coffee sitting on the table, perhaps a bottle of medicine that’s inside a purse resting on the floor. You just never know. If you take turns having an adult with your toddler at all times you will have a fun and safe get together.

Be sure that all plug ins have child safety plugs in place. Children like to poke things into holes and electricity is not a good place to play. Make sure that all electrical cords are hidden and out of the way of your toddler. Puppies aren’t the only ones that like to chew on cords.

Make sure to always put medication away. Store it in a high medicine cabinet under lock. Even child proof tops can be opened by a determined and equivalent toddler. Never leave medications in your purse where a toddler might find them.

In fact never leave your purse in a position where your toddler might find it. There are other hazards in your purse such as nail files or coins just to name a few.

If you have guns in your home make sure they are stored safely. Make sure the ammunition is stored in a locked cabinet and the that chamber in the gun is empty and the firing pin removed. This is another tragedy we hear of far too often. A child finds a gun tucked under a bed or in a dresser and begins to do what toddlers do, check it out. The outcome is never pretty!

You need to be especially careful when you have company. All your best intentions can go to waste if a guest forgets to close a gate behind them. Guests aren’t always accustomed to toddlers and may forget to close a gate or leave a breakable or a hot coffee within reach. When you have company be especially diligent to keep your toddler safe.

Keeping your toddler safe will be one of the most important things you do in your child’s life. Keeping them safe is every parent’s intent but sometimes the simplest things can be tragic.

---