Childproof your vacation!

Summer vacation safety

As parents you’ll have done everything you can to make your home safe for your child, especially if she’s a newly mobile baby or a curious toddler. But remember how it was before she got moving? You had no idea just what she’d get up to… the nooks and crannies she’d investigate… just how ingenious she’d be when it came to getting hold of things that could harm her. If you’re planning a vacation or visiting friends or family this summer, hold those thoughts – especially if your friends or relatives don’t have children and haven’t childproofed their home…

Lock it down

Friends who don’t have children are likely to be clueless about childproofing, while elderly relatives whose children are long-past the kid stage may have forgotten just how crafty kids can be!

• Ask your friends and family to place breakables or precious items they wouldn’t want chewed, battered or otherwise abused, well out of reach!
• If you’re visiting elderly grandparents, remind them that any medications they’re on will need to be locked away.
• If Grandma knits she needs to stow her knitting needles away safely. Does Grandpa smoke a pipe at all? Tobacco and matches/lighter need to be high up.

Pet problem

A crawling baby or excitable toddler is at risk from a dog or cat no matter how well-behaved and friendly the pet in question is.

• Ask if it’s at all possible for the pet to be kept in a separate room from your child.
• If necessary, focus on the pet’s wellbeing if you think your friends or relatives might be offended at your implicit suggestion that their pet might bite or scratch: for example, you could say, “Perhaps you should keep Fluffy safe in another room, Grandma. There’s not telling what Cody could do to that long tail if he grabs hold of it.”

Hunt for hazards

Once you arrive at your host’s home, take a moment to scan the rooms from your child’s perspective.

• Look out for things like trailing window-blind cords, staircases and water sources, from toilets to pools.
• As a precaution, it’s a good idea to take your own safety gate with you if you know the home you’re visiting has stairs; you could also consider taking along your toilet lock.
• As with pets, you can give the impression that your precautions will benefit your hosts too: “You’ll never be able to unknot that cord if Josh tangles it”; “Would you mind awfully if I just popped this lock on the toilet? Carter has an awful habit of flushing things down the toilet and I wouldn’t want him to block yours.” Check out Supernanny’s round-up of kid safety gadgets for recommendations.

Having a sleepover?

It’s best to use a portable travel crib but if you don’t have one beware of using old cribs that might not meet modern safety standards.

• It’s recommended that slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart so your baby’s head can’t get stuck.
• The mattress should fit snugly, with no gaps.
• Don’t use any blankets, pillows or crib bumpers for a baby under 12 months.

Staying in a hotel?

Ask if the room will be childproofed or if the hotel offers childproofing kits. If neither is an option, follow these tips…

• Take along some doorknob covers and a stairgate to block your child’s access to the bathroom.
• Once in your room, scan the floor for any discarded objects that might not have been vacuumed up.
• Make sure he can’t access the refrigerator if there is one; and that the TV isn’t likely to topple over onto him if he pulls up on it.
• Remove any tablecloths he might pull on, and unplug the coffeemaker and hairdryer.
• Gather up any loose cables or wires and tie them in a bundle using a sock if necessary.
• A long tube sock is also ideal for using to prevent a door closing on tiny fingers: simply tie one end to the doorknob on each side of the door.
• Be aware that cribs in hotels may not be new so you still need to be vigilant in checking that they’re safe.
• Lock the windows and any doors that lead out onto balconies.

 

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