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| My Toddler
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Risk Management
How to keep your tot safe
Being up on two feet means your little fella can go everywhere and grab everything. So how do you keep him safe?
By Christina Ching
Don't allow your tot to play with toys designed for older children. Any toy that is small enough to fit through a circle that is 3cm in diameter, or is shorter than 6cm, is unsafe for a child under 4.
Your child's little bathtub or the laundry bucket may look harmless enough, but leave your toddler alone for a split second and even water that's just 5cm deep can prove fatal.
Never let your tot run on ahead — drivers backing out of the parking lot or driveway won't be able to see him. |
There was a time when you could leave your baby on his play mat and he’d stay put till you returned. Not anymore ? now that your tyke’s on the move, accidents are waiting to happen wherever he wanders. Being a toddler is a risky business, and you’ll need to keep your eyes glued on him at all times so that he doesn't 1) choke, 2) fall, 3) touch dangerous objects, or 4) dash across the road (gasp!).
Here's how to baby-proof your home, and stay one step ahead of your mini dynamo, both indoors and out.
ACCIDENTS AT HOME
Falls
Over half of the 10,000 plus cases of childhood injury seen in Singapore every year are a result of accidental falls, according to the Health Promotion Board (HPB). Indeed, your little one is at higher risk of a serious injury, since Ministry of Health statistics show that more than half of the children hospitalised for injuries in 2006 were aged 5 and below. What’s noteworthy is that about 60 per cent of these injuries occurred in the “safety” of the home.
Now that your toddler can reach, climb... and tumble, collisions and falls can happen in a split second. The best way to teach your action terror to stay safe is by example and repetition. So, show him to never leave things lying on the floor, in case someone trips over them, and that he must never run with a sharp object in his hand or even if he has a toothbrush in his mouth. Keep the messages short and sweet, and be prepared to repeat points them over and over. Remember that junior has an amazingly short memory, is easily distracted, and can't quite grasp the consequences of his actions yet.
Safety Tips:
• Encourage your toddler to stow his toys after playing.
• Fit gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Use corner covers on table edges and other sharp areas.
• Keep furniture away from windows. Forget aesthetics, it’s time to fit those window grills.
• Ensure blind cords and curtain ties are well out of reach.
• Check that balcony railings are stable and that your child can't climb on them or fall through the gaps.
• Cover low-level glass with safety film or make sure that it’s made of tempered/safety glass.
Top Tip!
Send your tot’s caregivers for lessons on how to help a choking child and how to perform CPR in case of an emergency. Try the first-aid courses run by KK Women’s and Children's Hospital, St John Ambulance Singapore or Singapore Red Cross Society.
For help on child-proofing your home, go to the Health Promotion Board's Childhood Injury Prevention Programme website.
Did You Know?
Even before baby gets moving, you should go down on all fours - crawl around the house and make sure that everything is safe. Experts say it is never too early to baby-proof your home, but do it at least before your infant is 6 months old. If you wait till your little action hero is already crawling, cruising or walking, it may be too late.
Hot water can scald your tot up to 30 minutes after being boiled. |
Burns and Scalds
Your curious cutie naturally wants to touch everything he can lay his hands on since his mobility opens a whole new, exciting world for him to explore.
Teach him warning words like “ouch” and “hot”. Use these terms to explain to your tot why he mustn't touch certain items, such as hot drinks and the iron, or that he should not go near the stove and oven. Again, you’ll need to repeat these messages to help him remember, even if it means sounding like a nag,
Safety Tips:
• Keep hot drinks out of reach and don't carry your child with a hot drink in your hand.
• Make sure lighters and matches are well out of sight and touch.
• Avoid trailing electric cords, in particular, on kettles. Coil them up so your tot is less likely to reach over and grab them.
• Fit an oven guard, and always turn pan handles to the back of the stove so that he's less tempted to reach and pull.
Choking and Poisoning
Little ones love to put things in their mouths — it's all part of your mini explorer's development. Many infants and children die each year from choking, according to HPB. Most are under age 5, with the majority of them under 2 years. A US study found that nearly 70 per cent of choking deaths among the very young are caused by toys and other products made for children.
Seemingly harmless household items can also easily become dangerous poisons, if children consume them. So take a closer look around your home, and store potential choking hazards, as well as poisons like medications, cleaning products, alcohol, pesticides and cosmetics out of harm’s way.
Safety Tips:
• Don’t allow your tot to play with toys designed for older children. Any toy that is small enough to fit through a circle that is 3cm in diameter, or is shorter than 6cm, is unsafe for a child under 4.
• Teach his elder sibling to put her toys away as soon as she finishes playing, so her little brother can't get at them.
• Keep plastic bags out of your child’s reach. Never let your child play with or chew on uninflated or broken latex balloons.
• Check frequently for dangerous items your little one could find under furniture and between cushions, including coins, marbles, buttons, pen or marker caps, cars with small rubber wheels that come off, and small or foam balls that can be compressed to a size small enough to fit in a child's mouth.
• If you have a bean bag chair that contains small foam pellets, it's time to give it away. If the bag opens or rips, your child may inhale the tiny pieces.
• Cut up firm and round foods which can get stuck in your tot's airway, such as sausages, grapes, raw veg, nuts and seeds.
• Don't leave your handbag, or a visitor's, lying around, as it may contain tiny items like coins and safety pins, or toxic substances like medicines, toiletries and makeup.
• Keep dangerous items, such as medicines, household chemicals, DIY materials, perfumes, cosmetics, essential oils and alcohol well out of reach, or in locked cupboards.
Drowning
Your child's little bathtub or the laundry bucket may look harmless enough, but leave your toddler alone for a split second and even water that's just 5cm deep can prove fatal. Toddlers are attracted to water, but since they're still unsteady on their feet, you need to keep a constant lookout lest they slip.
Teach your water baby never to get into a bath or pool unless he is supervised by an adult. Enforce this message at each bathtime by reminding him that he can only jump in when you’re by his side. Enrolling him in a toddlers swimming programme will give him confidence around water, and he may even learn to hold his breath when water covers his face. That said, don't fall into a false sense of security — if your little one gets knocked over by a wave at the beach, or slips in the pool or bath, he could still panic and drown.
Safety Tips:
• Never leave your toddler alone in the bath or pool, not even for a few seconds.
• Put away buckets and basins, or turn them upside down.
• Empty bathtubs and paddling pools immediately after use.
• If you have a garden pond or fountain, cover it securely with a rigid grill or mesh.
GOING OUT
Getting Separated in Public
One moment you're eyeing a gorgeous bag, the next, you turn around to find that your toddler is missing. Losing your happy little wanderer in a busy street or shopping mall is not unheard of, since toddlers have no sense of direction and are easily distracted, especially when something catches their fancy.
Take precautions so that you don’t lose your little one when you're out with him and teach him about stranger danger, if he does stray from you.
Safety Tips:
• Always hold your tot's hand, or get him to cling to the stroller or supermarket trolley. Consider using a child safety harness (walking reins or wrist straps) if junior is prone to wandering off.
• Consider sewing his name on his clothes.
• When he’s older, teach him to recite his name, age, address and your telephone number.
• Rehearse what he should do if he gets lost: First, stay put and shout for Mummy loudly a few times. If he still can't see you, tell him to ask for help from a grown-up with children or a shop assistant.
Stranger Danger
Toddlers are naturally trusting and don't understand the consequences of potentially dangerous situations. They also respond easily to adults who are kind and supportive. When it comes to strangers, focus on one basic rule: He must never go anywhere on his own or with someone else — even a friend — without first checking that it’s alright with you or another caregiver.
Safety Tips:
• Discuss stranger and safety issues with your tot. Often, kids' impressions of dangerous people are the ugly creatures and scary monsters in storybooks, not your regular man-on-the-street.
• Teach your child not to help strangers look for lost things or puppies, accept gifts and sweets from a stranger, or to get in a car with someone he doesn't know, or even someone he knows, if the journey isn't planned beforehand.
• Role-play to make learning fun, and keep repeating the messages to reinforce the lessons.
• Make sure your kid knows who, when, where and how to get help. For example, he should know who will pick him up from nursery each day, and what after-school activities are planned for the day.
• When he’s 3 to 4 years old, you can chat about what sorts of behaviour by another person might make him feel uncomfortable. Stress to him that secrets that feel wrong need to be shared with you, and assure him that you'll never get angry, no matter what he tells you.
Road Safety
Open your car or house door and out your toddler charges, eager to have fun. Unfortunately, young children can't judge how far away a car is, or how fast it's travelling. Although children don't develop the skills they need to cross the road on their own till they’re at least 8, it's never too early to introduce him to traffic rules.
As soon as your tot is walking, teach him the basics of road safety. For example, every time you cross a road together, say, “Stop, look and listen”. Let him reach up himself to press the stop button at traffic lights and wait for the green man. Show him safe places to cross the road, such as at zebra crossings and traffic lights, as well as spots where he can be seen by drivers and has a clear view of the road. To make learning fun, read books and watch DVDs together that teach road safety to children.
Safety Tips:
• Never let your tot run on ahead — drivers backing out of the parking lot or driveway won't be able to see him.
• Always hold your tot's hand when crossing the road.
• Make sure he walks on the side of the pavement that is away from the traffic.
• Teach him “stop” and “go”, so he acts quickly when you shout an instruction.
While constantly staying ahead of your little rascal can be physically exhausting and mentally draining (especially since you're not getting any younger!), be comforted that most kids survive their toddler years with little more than a few bumps and bruises. Once your little explorer hits 3, you can help him develop his own sense of personal safety by letting him try things for himself — but always under your supervision. Have a safe journey through toddlerhood!
If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg
- Mother & Baby
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