We all leave things where they don’t belong from time to time and normally it’s not a problem, however when you have a toddler in the house, these small pieces can be potentially harmful for your little one. Here are just a few of the most common items that need a place in your home out of your child’s way.
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Buttons: We all keep extra buttons for the ‘just in case’ moments when you lose one from a coat, shirt or blouse, however left unattended- these colourful discs are attractive to little ones because they look like sweets. They are also the perfect shape to get lodged in your toddler’s windpipe. Always keep buttons in a locked box out of your toddler’s reach and don’t leave them on low lying side tables.
Coins: Coins get everywhere, they can collect on surfaces from when someone empties their pockets or the change from the window cleaner might get left on the side. Try to keep all coins in purses, wallets and money boxes, away from where your toddler can get to. While they may not look as appealing as buttons, your child may still be tempted to put these little metal rounds in their mouth.
Button Batteries: These are highly dangerous because they are the right shape to get stuck in your toddlers windpipe but they also burn through an esophagus in just two hours. This can lead to surgery, breathing and feeding tubes and even death. So it’s vitally important to keep these in a location your toddler will never visit and make sure that all gadgets (including watches) that carry this type of battery are not accessible to your child.
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Marbles, small stones and rocks: If you like to collect stones as a memento from every place you’ve been, make sure that these are high up and away from your toddler’s eyeline. Similarly, if you still have marbles from when you were young, these should be tucked away in a memory box so your little one isn’t tempted to play with them and try to eat them.
Bottle caps: If you have a recycling box in your kitchen, make sure that no bottles linger in there and go straight into the outside bin. Bottle caps are just the right size and shape to cause an obstruction in your child’s airway so keep your toddler out of harm’s way by being efficient with the recycling in your home.
Large pills: Pills such as vitamins, supplements and antacids tend to be on the larger side and pose a risk to your child. These are often colourful and could be mistaken for sweets, in which case, keep them with all of your other medication in a locked box and away from your child.
Washers: If someone in your family is into DIY, washers can become a real problem if they are not kept in a toolbox and out of your child’s usual play areas. These discs are shiny and look like money so are attractive to an unsuspecting toddler. Keep all DIY equipment away from little hands- big or small- all home improvement equipment is dangerous for toddlers so don’t give them the opportunity to ‘help’ you.
If your child does get something lodged in their airway- there are plenty of videos that show you what to do in this situation. We like this one from British Red Cross...
To all the parents of toddlers out there- stay safe!
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If you think your toddler is still too small to be potty trained (the general advice is from around two and a half years old) there are ways you can introduce them to the idea of potty training without formally teaching them. The intention is to get them used to seeing things and doing things so that when the day comes and you do decide to potty train them- it won’t all seem so new and scary... to read more click HERE
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