Baby Talk - 2/19/15

Harper was just recently in for a studio session to capture her first birthday. A First Reflections patron, it is just amazing to see how much she has grown over the year!It is so exciting to see your baby begin to walk and transform before your eyes into a mobile and curious toddler. This reveals a whole new world to your child, while at the same time requiring you to toddler-proof your home. Instead of being down on your hands and knees as you were when baby-proofing your home, you need to look up, and probably higher than you think, because with walking often comes climbing. Here are a few tips to get you started.

• There are some safety features that apply to multiple rooms within your house. Being unsteady on their feet, toddlers knock into lots of things. To prevent bumps and bruises, cushion furniture corners and edges (e.g., coffee tables, fireplace hearth) with bumpers. Secure heavy furniture (e.g., bookcases) to the wall to prevent them from tipping if bumped into or climbed on by your toddler. Strategically place furniture to block electrical outlets or use outlet covers, while hiding the actual electrical cords behind furniture or within a hide-a-cord device. Consider decorating with cordless window coverings and installing window guards to prevent windows from opening more than four inches. If you have a staircase in your home, install safety gates at both the top and bottom of the stairs. 

• The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house for toddlers. Little hands can reach higher than you think. When cooking, opt for the back burners and if the front burners must be used, turn the pan handles away from the front of the stove. Unplug and move appliances (e.g., toaster, food processor, coffee maker) away from the edge of the counter and away from little fingers. Be careful of placing hot food or beverages on a table with a tablecloth because your toddler can pull it – and everything on the table – down. Consider installing safety latches on the refrigerator, freezer, and oven door. Don’t forget to remove magnets from the refrigerator, as they pose a potential choking hazard.

• The bathroom needs special attention because toilets pose a drowning hazard, especially for toddlers who are a little unbalanced on their feet. Toilets should be secured with a safety latch. As in the kitchen, appliances with cords (e.g., hair dryers, curling irons, straighteners) should be unplugged and moved to the back of the counter to avoid injury and burns if they were to be pulled down by your toddler.  

• All cleaning supplies, medications, alcohol, and other hazardous substances should be stored in locked or toddler-proofed cabinets. Your toddler’s manual dexterity and problem-solving skills have increased, so containers that were previously challenging may now be easier to open.