Holiday Safety:
Easy steps to a safe, happy holiday

Holiday Safety? What’s that all about and why do we need to think about it?

Holidays and special events are fun. They give us a break from our normal, everyday routines and often include getting together with family and friends.

Special foods, extra shopping, decorating, visiting and possibly traveling are all enjoyable, but when added to an already busy schedule, can be overwhelming.

Babies and children alike can sense when you are upset, nervous or tense about having too much to do.

So just when you need the baby to sleep in order to get something done, he seems to be extra cranky and needs more attention.

Your toddlers and older children may get into things that they normally would never touch.

Holiday Safety Tips

• Try to keep things simple. You don’t have to do everything to have a nice holiday.

  Being together is the best part of any holiday or special times.







• Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels.

  Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.



• Holidays often mean special decorations. Make sure you keep breakables, candles and anything with sharp edges or points, up and away from your baby and toddler.
  
  
  

• Halloween is a holiday that requires extra safety attention.

  Costumes, candy, lots of kids, and dark neighborhoods all contribute to potential dangers for your kids.

  Some conscious, added protection is needed for your children at this time of year.

  Click here for more specific Halloween Safety Tips.





• During the Christmas/Hanukah season, so much is going on.

  The visiting, the presents, the decorations and the excitement all lead to such a fun holiday time.

  But, that also means you have to be on extra alert for the safety of your children.

  Click here for more specific Christmas Safety Tips to help you and your family make the most of the Christmas season.

Food Safety

• Something to think about at all times and not just in terms of holiday safety is that bacteria are often present in raw foods. Be sure to fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.







• Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child's exploring hands.









• Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.


• Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.


• Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them.


• Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.


• Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.


• Be extra aware of foods that can be easily choked on especially by children under the age of four. Some of these foods are hard candies, nuts, popcorn, apples, grapes, and carrots.





• Be extra vigilant if your child has food allergies. If you are going over to the houses of your friends or families, double check that the host and the other guests know what foods your child is allergic to.

  Be sure they aren’t reusing dishes or serving spoons, etc that came in contact with the food your child is allergic to.

Happy Visiting

• Keep an extra watchful eye on your baby and toddler. It's easy to get distracted especially if there are a lot of people around.

  ** Don't assume that someone else is watching your child. **

• Homes you visit may not be childproofed the way yours is.

  There can be dangerous areas that you and your children aren’t used to. Keep an eye out for danger spots:
  
  

  • stairs without baby gates
  
  
  • chemicals and medicines
  
  
  • doors without locks
  
  
  • window treatments with hanging cords (these can be a strangulation hazard)
  
  
  • windows without guards
  
  
  • plastic bags and electrical cords
  
  
  • toys meant for older children that could be potentially dangerous to a young baby or toddler

• Homes you visit or hotels you stay in may not have the same, regulated, certified crib that you have at home. They might have an old hand-me-down or one from when their kids were little.

  Call ahead and make sure these cribs fit with the safety regulations you know to be safe for cribs.

• Make sure they have a fitted crib sheet and aren’t wrapping a large sheet around the mattress. This can bunch up and cut off the baby’s air. You may want to bring your own fitted crib sheet to be sure.

• Another holiday safety tip is to Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco. Click here for more detailed information about smoking safety.

Other Safety Tips:

• Make sure to give your overnight guests two secure escape routes from your home in case of an emergency. Click here for more information on how to make your fire escape plans.



• Have all emergency phone numbers handy by the phone. Ideally, have emergency numbers programmed into your home and cell phones.


• Have working fire extinguishers available. Make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are and how to work them.


• Make sure all your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order and have been properly tested.


• Have first aid kits ready and available in case of an emergency.

There’s no doubt about it, holidays and special events can be hectic. Keeping in mind the above holiday safety tips will help to make this time safer and more enjoyable for you and your family. Taking a few precautions gives you peace of mind and allows you to have wonderful holidays and warm memories for years to come.

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Related Articles

Christmas Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

Toy Safety

Toy Safety Guidelines

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