A Few Holiday Safety Tips for Families with Small Children

The holidays are one of the most exciting times of the year for families with young children.The lights, the presents, the food, and the parties are all exciting for children. And as a parent, there is no better feeling than seeing your child’s face light up on Christmas morning when they see the presents that Santa left for them.

Unfortunately, the holidays can also bring some safety risks, especially for young children. Because of this, it is important for parents of younger children to make sure that they avoid these safety risks during the holiday season. Here are a few quick tips you can use to avoid some of these safety risks.

Make sure you’re driving safely.

It is always important to follow safe driving practices, but during the holidays it is even more important. During the holiday season, people are more likely to drive distracted and drive under the influence, so it is important to make sure that you are focusing on the road at all times. Put down any distractions and make sure you’re rested before you take off on that road trip. Driving while drowsy can actually be almost as dangerous as driving while intoxicated and can easily lead to a dangerous crash.

Get your car checked before road trips.

The last thing you want on a holiday road trip is to end up stranded on the side of the road, especially if you’re driving in snowy or icy conditions. To avoid mechanical issues and breakdowns, make sure you get your car inspected before your road trip. Make sure your fluids are topped off and that you have the proper tires for the weather.

Make sure your child has the correct car seat.

Car crashes are one of the top causes of death for children in the United States, and many of these deaths are caused by improper car seat use. Make sure your child has the correct seat for his or her height, weight, and age. Additionally, make sure that your child is properly buckled into the seat every time you go for a drive. Puffy coats can make the car seat straps too loose, so make sure you remove big coats before buckling your child into the seat.

Put the breakable ornaments higher up on the tree.

If you have small children at home, make sure that you place breakable ornaments higher up in the tree. Small children will be tempted to reach for the shiny ornaments and could break them, causing cuts and other injuries.

Keep poisonous plants out of reach.

Many people don’t know that several popular holiday plants are actually poisonous when ingested. Mistletoe and holly are two top offenders. If you decorate with these popular plants, make sure they are out of the reach of any small children.

Keep children out of the kitchen during holiday cooking.

Many small children are injured during the holidays in the kitchen. Hazards like pots of boiling liquid can be hard to keep out of the reach of small hands. To keep your small children safe, simply keep them out of the kitchen area while you’re cooking.

Watch out for choking hazards.
Small parts from toys, decorations, and other items can pose choking hazards for small children during holiday get togethers. If you have small children roaming around, make sure that you’ve removed any of these choking hazards from the floor first.

Make sure your tree isn’t a fire hazard.

Christmas trees cause many home fires every year. To prevent this, make sure you water your tree regularly. Additionally, make sure that none of the lights on your tree are fraying, as this could start a fire.

These are just a few tips to keep in mind this holiday season to keep your younger children safe. Follow the proper safety procedures and enjoy the excitement of your children during the holidays.

The post A Few Holiday Safety Tips for Families with Small Children appeared first on The Accidental Mrs..