Having a toddler in the house is a wonderful thing – they’re funny, they’re cute, they love you unconditionally… It’s an amazing time in their lives, and in your life as a parent. It’s also a difficult time because the little ones are now into everything. When they were babies, they couldn’t get up and move about – you knew where they were at all times. When they get older, they’ll have the understanding to know what’s safe and what isn’t. Toddlers, however, move around all the time (they’re very rarely still), and they don’t yet have the comprehension to know safe from unsafe. That’s a dangerous combination, but there are ways to make your home safer for everyone.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is often considered the most dangerous room in the house, and for good reason. It’s where the hot things are, and where the sharp things are. It’s where accidents can so easily happen. That means it’s also where you need to pay most attention to preparing the room and making it safe. The best means of keeping everyone protected in the kitchen is to never let your child go in there alone. Even that doesn’t guarantee that an accident won’t happen though; toddlers are quick. Keep cords away from the edges of surfaces, and lock cleaning fluids, knives, and other dangerous items away.
The Bathroom
Just like a kitchen, a bathroom can contain any number of hazards that can harm a small child. Make sure your bathroom cabinet is a lockable one – pills look like candy to a kid, and they might try to sneak some when you’re not looking. It’s not just pills, though; those potions and lotions that Mom and Dad use every day (deodorant, shaving cream, shower gel) and the tools that go with them (razors, tweezers, straighteners) can all be tempting to a child – and extremely dangerous.
The Family Room
Just because something is made to entertain a child, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be supervised while they’re enjoying it. The best way to deal with this issue is to only buy age-appropriate toys for your toddler. Giving a small child something meant for an older kid could result in injury, particularly if they are prone to putting things in their mouths. The same goes for TV and mobile devices; make sure you know what they’re watching and that it’s suitable, and if they are wearing headphones, check that they are specifically headphones for kids as this will better protect their hearing.
The Bedroom
Bedrooms should be a place of peace and relaxation, but they can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Check that the crib’s bars aren’t too far apart (heads can get stuck), and make sure that the sheets can be properly tucked all the way underneath to prevent them from wrapping around the child in the night. With regards to placement, that crib shouldn’t be under a window for two reasons; firstly, it’s easy for a toddler to climb up – and out. Secondly, it gets cold in that spot, and a chilly kid can lead to colds and coughs. Finally, if you’ve got blinds in the room, keep the cord up and away from where the little one could get caught up in it.