You’ve read all the right articles. You’ve bought all of the security devices that will help you keep your child from falling down the stairs, slamming their hands in the door, and even falling out an open window in your home. Every parent removes all of the stops for their first child, but what about each child thereafter? And what about those hazards that you just don’t think could possibly happen in your own home? What about the hazards you don’t even know about because you haven’t thought of everything?
There are many different ways that even the best parent can make mistakes that could lead to child injuries. Here are some of the most common mistakes that parents make and how you can avoid letting the same thing happen to you and your children.
Don’t let your first child’s behavior dictate how you act with your second child. Parents are more nervous with their first child than with those that follow. Never lax up on safety rules or devices just because your first child didn’t try to get into the bathroom, the cleaning supplies, or your medications.
Don’t leave your baby alone in the bathtub because their four-year-old brother or sister is there. The doorbell rings and you just need to get that package from the deliveryman. Drain the tub. Or wrap a towel around your baby and take them with you. This is the only way to avoid a drowning accident.
Don’t drink your morning coffee while you’re feeding your baby, changing a diaper or just snuggling. Whether you’re a new parent or this is your third child, you know what it means to be tired. And that means drinking lots of coffee. But you should never drink a cup of coffee around your baby. Coffee, even when cool enough for you to drink, can still be hot enough to scorch your baby’s skin.
Don’t allow your baby to use a baby walker without supervision. Putting your baby in a baby walker doesn’t keep them safer. In fact, it gives them more opportunities to slam into furniture, to tip over and hit their head, and to fall down the stairs faster than you can say “baby walker”.