Being a grandparent is special. You bring love and joy to your grandchildren’s lives, and you care about their safety and well-being.
Although you have many years of experience caring for kids, many safety guidelines have changed and continue to change. These updated child safety tips from Safe Kids Worldwide are here to support you whether your grandchildren are coming over for a visit or staying overnight.
Car Seats
If you plan to drive with your grandchildren, learn how to install the car seats and adjust the harness or seatbelt. Practice before the trip.
Never leave a child alone in a care, not even for a short time. The inside of parked cars can heat to deadly levels in minutes, and cracking the window doesn’t help. If you’re not typically driving with your grandchild, put an item such as your phone or wallet in the back seat as a reminder to “look before you lock.” Walk around the car before getting behind the wheel to make sure children aren’t in blind spots or behind the car.
Water Safety
Drowning can happen quickly and silently, often in as little as 20-60 seconds. Children should always be supervised when they’re in or near water, whether it’s a pool, river, or bucket. Young children and those who can’t swim should be within arm’s reach of an adult. Learn CPR so you can effectively respond in an emergency.
If you have a pool, water feature, or other body of water that is accessible from your property, make sure there are layers of protection to prevent children from reaching the water unattended. Door locks or alarms can help. Pools and hot tubs should be surrounded with fences at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates. If you’re using a kiddie pool, empty it after use.
Infant Sleep
You’re not alone if you remember different infant sleep advice from years ago! Experts have learned a lot since then, and the current guidance is that babies should sleep on their back, alone in their own space, on a flat firm surface without loose blankets, pillows, toys, or soft bedding. A portable crib, bassinets, or pack-n-play can be a great safe sleep option if you have a grandchild spending the night.
Home Safety for Children
Most childhood poisonings occur when everyday items like medicine are left within a child’s reach. Before the grandkids come over, check your house for any accessible medicines, supplements, and vitamins. Store all medicine (including containers and organizers) out of reach and out of sight.
Check to make sure that household cleaners and personal care items are out of reach. Button batteries can cause life-threatening harm if swallowed – keep small electronics and devices that use button batteries (key fobs, remote controls, greeting cards) out of reach of children.
If you have firearms at home, store them unloaded, locked, and separated from ammunition. Ensure they are out of children’s reach.
Create a safe play area for young kids. Remove small objects and keep them out of reach. Move any cords and strings out of reach and remove loose rugs. Don’t store tempting items like toys and remotes on high shelves or areas that grandchildren may try to climb to reach. Secure televisions and heavy furniture like dressers to the fall to prevent tip-over accidents.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
