Dangers to Watch for During Your Baby’s Taste-Test Stage
After a baby begins to crawl, they now have access to everything on the floor. Babies explore their world through all the senses. They touch, smell, see, hear, and also tend to put anything new into their mouths, but this last one can be a dangerous activity. The taste-test stage of a child’s development is instinctive, but parents can protect their baby from the dangers of choking, electrocution, or poisons with inventive childproof safety measures. Take a look at some of these ideas to see how you can make this stage of learning a little less bitter.
Cleaning Supplies
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If you have been keeping your cleaning supplies in cabinets underneath the sink, change this bad habit immediately. Move all your detergents, toilet bowl sanitizers, and other cleaning supplies to a cabinet that is as high up as possible. These sweet-smelling liquids might seem like a beverage to a toddler. Make sure to buy a special locking device for the cabinet that only an adult can unlock. Remember that in a few years, your child will also try to climb on kitchen or bathroom countertops, so it is essential to lock away cleansers.
Shocks from Electric Outlets and Cords
Electrical outlets look like fun places to explore for a crawling infant who may try to poke his finger or a toy into the device. Look for plastic electrical socket covers at local stores, but make sure to buy larger ones that won’t be a choking hazard for a baby. A toddler will also try to chew on colorful electrical cords that look like tasty candy, so buy childproof electrical cord covers in a basic black or white color. You can also move heavy furniture in front of electrical outlets and cords, but babies will still often try to explore behind a couch or armoire.
Marbles, Toys, and Other Small Objects
When you have several children, the older ones may have marbles or small toys that a baby will instinctively place in her mouth to taste. If a small object enters a child’s throat or is aspirated, it can lead to death within minutes. Toddlers can also ingest strange objects such as the pods from laundry detergent or the plastic wheels from a toy car, and these items can degrade in the stomach or intestinal tract, releasing lethal poisons. Teach your older children to put their toys on high shelves, and make sure to sweep floors or vacuum carpets frequently to find small dangerous objects before your baby does.
Plastic Garbage and Grocery Bags
You probably have an assortment of plastic grocery and garbage bags in your home or vehicle. As accident lawyers remind, these items can look like fun toys to crawling infants who may place the items over their heads, leading to suffocation. In addition, some toddlers will chew on these items to taste the plastic, and the material enters their throat, causing them to choke. Instead of reusing plastic grocery bags, switch to fabric satchels and make sure to keep the items away from a child’s reach. Put your plastic grocery bags in the same locked cupboard with your household cleansers.
To protect your child from the dangers of tasting and testing poisonous or small objects, begin to childproof your home while they are still unable to walk. Visit a local hardware or baby supply store to find large electrical socket covers, cabinet locks, and other items that are designed for protecting children and making your home a safe haven.
