Toddler-proof holidays

Posted on 17 December 2015

Cross a curious toddler with a Christmas tree filled with shiny ‘toys’ and lights and you could have a recipe for disaster. So here are some tips on making sure your home is safe for your little ones during this festive period. And, if you’re visiting relatives, be aware that their homes might not be child friendly, so ask them to have a look at the list too.

Keeping your own expectations in line with your child’s developmental stage is key to making your holidays less stressful and more enjoyable.

Christmas trees
• Kids love climbing stuff, so make sure your tree is secured and won’t topple over onto your little one. Consider placing it in a less frequented room, in a corner (where it has fewer access points thanks to the two walls) and securing it with some fishing line or rope.
• Another option is to go for a smaller tree and place it high up, out of reach, like on a table. Be sure to keep the tree away from the edges and watch out for dangling light cords so little hands can’t pull the tree down.
• If you have a real tree, make sure you keep it watered so it stays fresh and is less of a fire hazard. If you’re buying an artificial tree, make sure it’s labelled ‘fire retardant’.
• Don’t place candles on or near the tree. And never leave a small child alone in a room with a lighted candle.
• Check all lights for broken, loose or missing bulbs, and make sure the wires aren’t frayed and the sockets aren’t cracked. Always turn off the lights when leaving your home or going to bed.
• If your baby has just started crawling, consider erecting a playpen ‘fence’ around the tree, or stacking big, heavy boxes around it, hiding the real presents.
• Hang some bells on the tree as an alert – just make sure they’re big enough not to be a choking hazard.

Ornaments
• There are lots of shatterproof ornaments on the market – invest in those to avoid injuries.
• Replace wire and metal hooks (choking hazards) with ribbons.
• Decorate the tree from halfway up or from whatever point those tempting decorations will be out of reach.
• You can still display your treasured, sentimental ornaments – simply place them on a shelf or bookcase out of reach.

Gifts
• When buying gifts, check labels for age recommendations. You might think a child is advanced enough to enjoy a toy recommended for a higher age group, but it may contain choking hazards or other dangers.
• In the flurry and excitement when opening gifts, small objects (like the cable ties used to attach toys to the box) can end up scattered in between the toys, boxes and wrapping paper. To minimise choking hazards, keep a big box handy to throw packaging and paper into.

Finally, remember that your guests may not be used to having small children around, so be extra vigilant. Unattended handbags can be a minefield of choking and poisoning hazards, so ask your guests to leave theirs in a room where you can close the door.

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.