Parents view the world through anxious eyes.
Every unanchored piece of furniture, unlocked cabinet, or flight of stairs is something that could hurt your child, but while most can handle the day-to-day hazards, new seasonal risks can sometimes be overlooked.
As we move towards winter, then, keep an eye out for these 4 common hazards. From heaters to holiday decorations, these simple adjustments can keep your child safe.
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Perform A Battery Check
It’s important to regularly check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, no matter the season, but it’s especially important as the winter months approach.
That’s because fireplaces, certain types of heat, and other winter activities make fires and carbon monoxide leaks more likely.
And don’t forget to learn the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning; if you’re experiencing unexplained weakness and dizziness, nausea, headache, or confusion, you may be suffering from carbon monoxide exposure.
Choose Safe Heating Strategies
Home heating varies widely depending on the age of your home, recent upgrades, insulation quality, and personal preference, but if not handled properly, almost any kind of heating system can harm a small child.
For example, if you have old steam-powered radiators, they should be properly covered to prevent burns, as their surfaces can get quite hot.
You may want to place a baby gate or other barrier around heaters or fireplaces if you’re concerned that your child will touch them.
Another major winter heating concern comes from the use of propane heaters.
Such heaters are perfectly safe, as long as you purchase one designed for indoor use, and even those propane heaters that vent into the room produce so little exhaust so as to present little risk to children.
Just make sure to use a model with a tip-over safety switch, and never leave children unattended in a room with a propane heater running.
Monitor Humidifier Use
Speaking of heating, all of that dry air can really do a number on your child’s skin and airways.
That’s why many parents choose to place humidifiers, sometimes known as vaporizers, in their children’s rooms during the winter months, often running them at night to prevent cracked lips, blood noses, and other complaints related to hot, dry air.
Because these devices heat water to produce steam, however, they can potentially cause scalds and should be placed out of reach.
It’s also important to regularly clean and sterilize your humidifier, since warm, damp containers are ideal for bacteria and mold growth.
Choose Safe Heating Strategies
Home heating varies widely depending on the age of your home, recent upgrades, insulation quality, and personal preference, but if not handled properly, almost any kind of heating system can harm a small child.
Secure Holiday Decor
Decorating for fall and winter holidays is a lot of fun, and children love to admire jack o’lanterns, Christmas trees, menorahs, and all sorts of other holiday accoutrements.
These items are novel, often shiny or lit up, and can be a lot of fun, but they can also be dangerous.
That’s why it’s important to decorate with care and in an age-appropriate manner.
Place candles out of reach, avoid breakable ornaments or place delicate ones higher up on the tree, and choose some childsafe decorations that your little one is allowed to play with.
Remember, it’s much easier to redirect your child to an appropriate activity or item than it is to keep them away from all those fun holiday baubles.
When it comes to childproofing, it’s important to prioritize – you’ll never cover everything, and you don’t have to.
Instead, focus on what spots your child seems to find most tempting, and what hazards present the greatest risk and tackle those.
You’ve got this under control.
Our readers find these articles useful; A Baby Friendly Home, Seven Ways to Baby Proof your Home, 10 Tips for Safe Co-Sleeping and Top 9 Summer Break Safety Tips.
