Tips for Busy Moms: Holiday Childproofing

by Jennifer Worthington Lower

credit: farmersalmanac.com

Those of us with small children know that a certain amount of childproofing is necessary in the home. But as we near the holiday season, we tent to travel a bit more than usual. It is important to be aware of what may need to be done to your home and as you travel to keep your child safe.

The Basics

• Electrical sockets should be covered when not it use.
• Extension cords should be kept our of your child’s path and hidden from site.
• Blinds and window treatment cords should be snipped-they post a strangulation hazard
• Sharp edges should be covered.
• Breakable items should be placed our of baby’s reach.
• Secure furniture to avoid tipping.
• Stairways should be double gated-top and bottom.
• Latch cabinets and drawers.

Holiday Dangers

• Ornaments should be shatter proof and, preferably, kept high up on the tree where little hands can’t reach.
• People like to leave little dishes of candy sitting around during holiday visits. Keep them up high or ask the host to abstain from this.
• Ask Guests and Hosts to please close doors to rooms that pose a risk to your child or their valuables.
• Gates should be placed anywhere a door cannot be closed and on all stairs. Obviously, many people aren’t going to install gates just for your visit, but you can at bring along a pressure gate. It’s not the same as an installed gate, but it will stall your child.
• Lights should be kept out of reach. High up on the tree are best.
• Tinsel is a choking hazard.
• Open flames are common at dinner tables and holiday celebrations. Coach your child to stay back from them and remind hosts that they need to be avoided or kept up high.
• Fireplaces should have a secure gate (and a barrier if possible) in front of them.
• Artificial trees should be fire resistant and fresh trees need to be watered to avoid drying and becoming a fire hazard.
• Many plants can be harmful or poisonous. Be sure that they are not where your child can get to them and that they do not shed berries or leaves.
• If your host has a pool, please be sure that necessary precautions are taken.
• be mindful of medications. You know to have them secured in your home, but it’s common practice in homes without children to leave them visible. Ask your guests and hosts to put medication in a secure location.
• Grandparents like to provide cribs and play yards for grandchildren. Be sure that they follow current safety guidelines.
• Do your hosts have weapons such as guns that are easily accessible? Have them locked up or removed before you arrive.

Get on Their Level

One last thing that your can do to detect hidden dangers is to get down on your child’s level. The world is seen in a whole new way when you get down on your hands a knees. You find the coins that are hidden in the couch cushions or that tack that fell off the wall. This is a great way to finish off your childproofing.

The holidays are fun and exciting for you and your children. Don’t let potential dangers ruin the festivities!

If you have any additional tips, please feel free to add to the list! We want our little ones safe!

Jen is a 20-something wife and mother of two under three living in Chester County. She and her husband were born and raised in the Philadelphia area, and with the exception of attending and graduating from Shippensburg University, they have no intentions of leaving. Jen spends her days working in an office and trying to find ways to spend more time at home with her family. To get more tips on running a balanced household, visit Jen at mamaZEN, Twitter and Facebook.

Hazardous Holidays and How to Celebrate Safely

By Heather Bitzer

My 16-month-old rounded the Christmas tree and teetered precariously at the top of the basement staircase. I watched in horror as her thought process played plainly across her face. She was half a blink away from following the kitty (a.k.a. falling pretty little head over heels) all the way down to the concrete floor below.

Two questions occurred to me as with an animal-like cry and a lunge I brought the party to a screeching halt: Why didn’t Uncle Joe re-close the door after that last trip down for ice? And, why didn’t one of the six adults she passed on her way to sure doom stop her?

The simple answer? They just didn’t think of it. Whether they’ve forgotten what it’s like having kids around, or they’ve never known, friends and relatives may find themselves ill-equipped to host children this holiday season.

Be a courteous guest. Let your hostess know exactly what your child is capable of so she can prepare before you arrive. Using your own home as a checklist, communicate the obvious and hidden dangers of daily life with a toddler. Don’t expect a host to run out and buy baby-gates. But, it’s a good idea to tune her in to Mommy World where a delicious cup of coffee is really a steaming cup of second degree burns. Below are a few more landmines to avoid.

Holiday Hazard #1: Unattended Purses and Coats.

Remember the coat pile? During family parties, my cousins and I tunneled for hours on Grandma’s coat covered bed. Sounds like fun, but we didn’t wear bike helmets or seatbelts back then either! Medications, cigarettes, even weapons can lurk in the purses or pockets of guests who didn’t count on their coat doubling as a tent.

The Solution:

Ask your host to closet up those coats and designate a purse depot. Clear out a high cabinet or provide one of those large plastic containers where lady friends can drop their bags safely. While not technically “child proof,” that giant Tupperware is superior to the usual purse plop next to the couch.

Holiday Hazard #2: Inappropriate toys.

As a nurse who once helped remove a “Polly Pocket” shoe from a boy’s nose, please allow me to remind you about the importance of age restrictions on toys. When visiting for the holidays, your kids are bound to receive presents, some of which may have you running right back to the store with the gift receipt.

The Solution:

Having a hard time figuring out how to be both a gracious gift recipient and a good mommy? Establish a “no box opening” rule with your kids. Let them unwrap their presents to express thanks, but don’t allow them to take the new toy out of the box until you get home and inspect that sucker! Ostensibly, you’re saving your hostess a mess or lost parts, but in reality you’re avoiding a trip to the emergency room for a date with a pair of special tweezers.

“Always follow the age guidelines on toys,” warns a local pediatrician. “Also look out for beads, the candy dish, small vegetables like peas, stones and paper.” He also recommends that parents take along the number for Poison Control. “Poison Control is happy to help with non-drug ingestions too, for things like batteries and pennies.”

Holiday Hazard #3: Fire

You don’t need this article to tell you open flames and small children don’t mix. So if your hostess can’t give up candles or dreams of her guests caroling around a roaring fire skip the party and make another date for a visit with the kids.

The Solution:

You probably have a fire escape plan in place at home. Carry that good practice with you while spending the night away too. Fire causes panic and confusion. Add in unfamiliar surroundings, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster! Ask your hostess what fire escape measures are in place in the home. If you’re in a hotel, familiarize yourself with the fire evacuation plan, usually located on the back of the door. Chose your escape route and designate a meeting place. The US Fire Administration recommends taking a flashlight along and counting the number of doors between your room and the exits. Check out their website which also includes a section just for kids at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov

Holiday Hazard #4: Unfamiliar Pets

If you encounter a dog-child with a new Christmas sweater and a stocking full of presents, assume your hostess expects Fido to participate equally in the festivities. Unfortunately, even pets that love kids can snap under the incessant prodding of an overzealous toddler. Supervise and watch body language. To a dog, a simple hug around the neck can be interpreted as a threat.

The Solution:

Diplomatically suggest putting the dog away using my mom’s favorite face saving technique. Blame your kids. “My Jenny loves doggies a little too much. I’d sure feel terrible of she hurt Poochie.”

Here’s an informative page about kid-dog safety: http://www.avanimalrescue.org/dogskid.htm

Above all, communicate with your hostess. Then question your own expectations. If you find yourself walking too fine a line between being a good guest and a good mom, maybe you should scrap the travel plans this year, or at least stay at a hotel.

Stay tuned for more tips from Heather on how to avoid or mitigate hazardous hotspots!