Toddler Safety

Giving Time-Teaching Skills For Life

This article is about toddler safety. More than 2000 children a year die because of an incident at home. It is very important to be aware of safety as toddlers can get themselves into mischief very easily. Toddler proofing your home means you won't have to be constantly saying "no" to your little one. There will be less frustration to your toddler if dangerous objects are out of reach and sight. You will spend less time worrying if you know your toddler cannot hurt themselves. Toddler proofing your home really needs to be done as soon as your little one is mobile.

Choking Hazards in your home.

• Toddlers have a tendency when first mobile to be putting things in their mouths.
• Buttons, coins, screws, you name it and your toddler may be drawn to tasting these little objects (toddlers sometimes use their mouths to check out objects)
• Magnets are a danger as they can attract to themselves within a body and cause internal problems.
• If you have older children then beware of choking hazards from their toys. Here is a list of recalled toys

Electrocution dangers

• Your toddler is a very curious person, they may well experiment by placing fingers or items into outlet sockets.
• To prevent this cover outlet sockets and extension cords with covers.
• All outlets near water should have interupters that will stop the flow of electricity if they get wet.
• Make sure all cords to electric appliances are out of reach of your little one.

Burns and fire

• Toddler skin is delicate so make sure you protect your toddler from burns from hot drinks mugs.
• Don't carry your toddler while you are carrying a hot mug of tea or coffee.
• Place mugs out of reach and don't use tablecloths that your toddler can grab and pull onto themselves.

• Be aware of your cooker, toddlers can burn themselves on the oven door and may pull hot pans off the stove top if not supervised. You may want to look at oven locks and stove top guards.

• You will need to make sure your water temperature to 120 degrees to prevent scalds or burns to your toddler.
• You could purchase an anti scald device which will turn off the water if it is over 120 degrees f.

• Always have smoke alarms fitted and tested monthly, it would be better to interconnect them if possible.
• make sure you have thought about fire exits in case of fire.

Furniture

• Every year there are deaths and injuries because a pice of furniture has toppled and crushed children.
• Don't put items of furniture hald on and off rugs.
• Anchor unstable items to the wall.
• Make sure your Tv is on a large stable base.
• Don't place your toddlers favorite toys on top of bookcases or items of furniture that your toddler nmay try to climb.

Suffocation

• Keep all plastic bags away from your toddler. They can cause suffocation if your toddler puts them over their head
• Make sure your toddler cannot get into furniture such as toy chests and get stuck inside, use safety locks.

Water

• A child can drown in very little water.
• Never leave your toddler unsupervised in the bath, near the toilet, or near any buckets of water such as nappy pails.
• Outside be aware of paddling pools, water butts and ponds, and of course swimming pools.
• All should be emptied or covered when toddlers are around.
• Swimming pools should have a fence surrounding it along with a safe cover.
• Remember it only takes a few seconds for an incident to occur.

Stairs

• Always have stair gates at top and bottom of your stairways.
• Once your toddler is mobile the stairs will be like a magnet.
• Make sure you are always with your toddler as they go up and down the stairs.
• If your toddler is in a babywalker you must have gates at the top of the stairs.
• Accidents can easily happen with these even if you are supervising.

Plants

• Be aware that many houseplants may be poisonous.
• Keep houseplants out of reach of your toddler.

Windows

• Keep long window cords out of reach of toddlers. You can purchase blind winders to keep cords secure.
• Use window guards or keep windows shut to prevent accidental falls from windows.

• For toddler safety items take a look at this page toddler safety items
• For safety gates check out our safety gates page

• Safety gates
• Toddler temper tantrums



• Terrible twos
• Babies first birthday party