Toddlers are energetic, curious and want to do things for themselves. At this age, the child can run, jump, climb and explore everything. The desire to do new things can sometimes endanger the life of the child and cause unwanted accidents or injuries.
In fact, injuries are one of the primary causes of death of children aged four years and below in the United States. Most of these injuries happen because parents are unaware of what their toddler can do.
However, since it is the responsibility of the parents to protect the child from injury, following certain safety tips for toddlers can be helpful in preventing their child from getting injured.
Falls
At the toddler age, a child begins to walk, jump, climb and run as well. Their excitement of experimenting with their new found skills can often cause them injury. Leaving a chair close to a table, kitchen counter or window can prompt your kid to climb to dangerously high places, causing them to fall and injure themselves.
To prevent serious falls, parents should ensure that all doors that lead to dangerous areas are locked. Removing sharp edged furniture from your child's room, installing operable window guards especially if you are staying on the first floor and using gates on stairways are some of the precautionary measures parents can take to safeguard their toddler.
Poisonings
To explore their world, toddlers usually tend to put their mouth on anything that seems to appeal to them. They do not hesitate to open bottles, doors or drawers to find something that they can eat.
This act can sometimes prove dangerous for your child. To prevent any kind of injury due to poisoning, parents of toddlers should ensure that they use safety caps on all toxic household products and medicines.
Additionally, it is also important that you keep all medications and household products away from the reach of children.
However, if your toddler happens to consume something poisonous, avoid making the child vomit and call the Poison Help hotline immediately. Add the Poison Help hotline number 1-800-222-1222 to your phone for emergency's.
Car Safety
Car crashes can seriously endanger the life and health of your child. Driving at slow speeds or halting to a sudden stop can also sometimes cause death or severely injure your child.
Following safety tips for toddlers every time your little one rides in the car is crucial to keep him safe. All infants and toddlers should use a car safety seat when travelling in the car. They should ride in a rear facing car seat that has been installed properly in the vehicle.
Riding in a car safety seat until two years of age or until the child reaches the maximum height and weight allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat will help keep your toddler safe when travelling. The back seat is one of the safest places for all children to ride.
In addition, keeping vehicles and their trunks locked and not leaving your child alone inside the car is also important. Temperatures in locked cars can often reach to deadly levels quickly causing the child locked in the car to die of heat stroke.
A child playing or standing behind the car may not be seen in the rear view mirror. To prevent injury to your child, walk to the rear end of the car before you back out of your driveway and make sure that your child is not there.
Burns
To prevent burn injuries, it is important to keep your toddler out of the kitchen while preparing a meal. The presence of grease, hot liquids and hot foods in the kitchen make it a dangerous place for your child.
A child playing or staying in the kitchen while you are cooking is more at a risk of getting serious burn injuries. To keep your child safe while you are cooking or at any time when you find it difficult to give the child complete attention you should buckle them into a high chair,place them in a crib, or playpen.
Very often toddlers try to hold onto anything that can help them balance themselves, keeping your child out of a place that has wall or floor heaters can help prevent them from getting burned.
However, if your toddler does get burned, it is advised that you pour cool water on the burned area immediately. Allow the burn to remain submerged in cold water for a few minutes until it is cooled off. Once cooled off use a clean cloth or dry bandage to wrap the burn loosely. Immediately contact your physician for all burns.
An important safety tip to prevent your child from getting burn injuries is to ensure that all hot foods or beverages are away from your child's reach. Always avoid carrying hot liquids and your child at the same time.
In addition, have a smoke alarm especially in the sleeping and furnace areas. Test the alarms at regular intervals and ensure that they are working properly on each level of your home.
Drowning
Toddlers love to play with water and are more at a risk of drowning. To prevent your toddler from drowning, it is important that the child is never left alone in or near a swimming pool, a pail of water or bathtub.
Since a toddler can drown in water less than two inches, keep bathroom doors closed, empty buckets after use and staying at an arm's length of your child whenever the child is around water is important to prevent your child from drowning.
If you have a swimming pool, build a fence that is about four feet high on all four sides and ensure that the pool has self latching gates.It is impossible for any parent to keep a watch on their kid every minute whenever he or she is inside the home. Taking precautionary measures is crucial for every parent to prevent their child from drowning.
Remember, since injury is the biggest threat to the life and health of your child, following the safety tips for toddlers mentioned above can help keep your child safe, secure and happy.
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