Although your child has become more active as the days goes by and seems to want to be cuddled and carried less, he/she still needs the security of your affectionate arms hugging him/her. In this period, you can take different safety measures that tend to his/her needs and prepares him/her against new risks. This can be done by creating an environment in which he/she can move freely, burn off energy and continue to live safely and securely.
Home safety
The source of joy in your home is your child who is a ball of energy that cannot stay long in one place and has to be on the move at all times. Taking care in particular to prevent him/her from standing up in the bathtub can be a chore, but is worth it when you consider the risks. You can protect him/her against falls and slips by keeping the bathroom floor dry and/or using anti-slip floor covers.
Your child, who no longer uses or will soon stop the use of his/her highchair, will be taking his/her place at the dinner table, sitting in a chair like you. You have to pay attention and prevent, if necessary, your child from precariously balancing himself/herself on the legs of the chair during his/her happy and joyful transition from highchair to a chair by the table. Moreover, you must ensure that his/her dining experience is a safe and secure one by supplying him/her with child-safe cutlery he/she is eating.
With children of this age, windowsills and balconies are places you should pay special attention to. Use of window and door locks will be helpful in mitigating any hazards. You can ensure his/her safety by not leaving him/her alone in rooms with open windows and balcony doors. Lace curtain cords, roller blind chains, long necklaces, belts and accessories such as ribbons must be kept at places out of your child’s reach as they can easily get entangled around his/her neck.
Outdoor Safety
One of the subjects that has been repeatedly emphasized in recent years is the need not to leave children alone in cars – especially during the hot weather. Furthermore, because your child is older now, replacing his/her car seat with a model more fitting with his/her height and weight would be a good idea in terms of safety and comfort.
If your child has started riding a bike, you should not neglect equipping him/her with a helmet and elbow and knee pads, regardless of whether he/she drives a tricycle. The protective gear will protect your child against unexpected injuries. It is important that you don’t leave your child untended to when riding a bike. Don’t forget that drivers in vehicles may not notice him/her. The same rule applies when he/she is not on the bike.
You can also start teaching your child, whose communication skills have been improving with each passing day, how to cross the street. You should warn your child to be careful of the cars on the road and always walk on the sidewalks. Seeing you adhere to the traffic rules will be good training for him/her.
Content provided by: ZNN Network www.znnnetwork.com
Label: child safety, indoors, pre-school, riding a bike, safe environment, Security
