Toddler safety: would your house pass the test?

Life is one big adventure for toddlers. Pippa Henderson has prepared a checklist to ensure your home is safe for exploration.

Very early one morning, when my youngest was a toddler, I stirred from sleep to the feeling of a little person playing with my hand, and then dropped back into slumber. An hour or so later, I woke to discover I was holding a pizza cutter that was meant to be safe in the kitchen drawer. I’d been caught red-handed: Mrs Henderson, in the bedroom, with a pizza cutter. Mack’s silent message was loud and clear: not only did he want pizza for breakfast, but it was also time to toddler-proof our home.

I remember feeling surprised that I had slept through the pizza cutter incident, but recently I was even more surprised to learn that kitchen implements aren't the only thing we're unaware of while we slumber – we also lose our sense of smell. Fire and Emergency New Zealand shed more light on this over the page and their message is such a good reminder – when taking safety measures around the home, it is important to look for both obvious and not-so-obvious hazards.

As your little one progresses from floor-bound baby to furniture-surfing toddler, their curious little bodies investigate every household nook and cranny faster than their developing brains can process danger. It’s impossible to cover a full list of precautionary measures, but here are a few to cover your bases and get you thinking about potential risks – and what should be done about them! 

AROUND THE HOUSE 

✔️ Secure large pieces of furniture, such as bookcases, to the wall.   
✔️ Cover sockets with plug blocks.       
✔️ Get a non-slip mat for the bath.       
✔️ Prevent fingers getting jammed with doorstops or slam guards.
✔️ Keep appliances away from the edge of the bench, and cords out of reach.
✔️ Keep pot handles away from the front of the stove.
✔️ Install safety latches on drawers and cupboards with dangerous contents.
✔️ Install a stair gate.
✔️ Stick window decals on ranch sliders and large low windows.      
✔️ Keep strings from blinds and curtains tucked up and away.       
✔️ Use fireplace and heater guards, and keep matches and fire-starters out of reach.
✔️ Look around the house and remove any choking hazards from reach (eg batteries, coins, magnets and Lego).   
✔️ Keep the lid on the toilet seat down. 
✔️ If you have bunks, use a removable ladder so your toddler can’t climb up. 
✔️ Install window security latches.       
✔️ Unplug chargers and cables that aren’t connected to phones or computers, ie don’t leave them live, yet loose, for chewing on!      
✔️ Ensure you have working smoke alarms in the house, especially in all family members' bedrooms. 

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 

✔️Keep toddlers well away from barbecues, hotplates and grills.
✔️Use a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30.
✔️Make sure your trampoline has both padded springs and safety nets.
✔️Fence swimming pools and even inflatable pools.
✔️Have well-fitting flotation devices at the ready before you hit the water.    
✔️Actively supervise toddlers in and around water, and stay within arm’s reach at all times.
✔️Empty paddling pools and water containers after supervised use.

Read more tips at watersafety.org.nz.