This holiday season you most likely will host out of town visitors or you'll be an out of town visitor yourself. Both situations can provide parenting challenges when it comes to maintaining a safe environment for your baby.
What's a mom to do? How can you maintain a safe environment this holiday season?
1. Reality check.
You are busy, busier than usual busy. Ask friends and family to help keep an eye on your little one. Be specific in this request rather than offering a blanket request. For example, "Mom, I have to make the dessert for tonight, would you please watch darling Oliver for me while I do?" or "Oh my dearest sister, I have to start laundry (yet another load), would you please make sure Oliver is safe while I do?"... you get the point. Accountability is key here because inevitably people will think someone else is doing it.
2. Open suitcases, open invitation.
Ask visitors to be responsible for their own medications and vitamins (or if you're traveling be responsible for your own). Suggest a safe place they can keep them during their visit. Don't think your baby won't be interested in Grandma's open suitcase and the goodies inside it. It's new, it's different, it's there. He's interested! Yes, that is the voice of experience you're hearing. When my son, Nicholas was 3, he and his cousin Julian (2) ate a ziplock bag full of my sister's vitamins straight out of the unlocked, unzipped suitcase. Luckily they were fine but this is why I stress the importance of keeping medication and vitamins out of reach. It all looks like candy, candy, candy to a kid. If you're traveling, when you first arrive do a quick assessment of the environment. If you find potential hazards politely ask if you can remove the hazard for the time you're there. It may feel a little uncomfortable asking the first time but remember, you are your baby's advocate and ultimately everyone who loves your baby wants him/her to be safe.
3. The bubbly is flowing.
The bubbly is flowing (as it should be for your sanity if for no other reason!) this time of year but take care not to leave open bottles and 1/2 empty glasses of alcohol for little ones to find. And when uncle Frank comes back in from smoking on the front porch, kindly remind him to keep those smokes away from the babe.
4. Poinsettia plants are poisonous?.... NOT TRUE!
You can absolutely enjoy your beautiful poinsettia plants this holiday season without worry. Even though the name sounds like they should be poisonous they in fact are not.
5. Presents, presents and more presents.
Toys with small parts or loose pieces are a choking hazard. Discuss with older children the importance of keeping those toys away from the baby. Encourage friends and family to buy age appropriate toys- the choking hazard warning is printed on the packaging for a reason.
6. People in, people out, doors open, doors closed, safety gates open.... safety gates open?
The addition of out of town visitors can make for a very busy environment. Older children, adults who don't have children and adults who had children 35 years ago may not immediately understand the importance of closing the safety gate every time. ("We didn't have safety gates when you were a baby and you turned out just fine"). Have a brief discussion regarding the importance of keeping the gate closed and the consequences for baby (and maybe for the person who doesn't close the gate, but that's just me) of leaving it open. Offer to demonstrate how the gate works. We have a great portable baby gate we use when we travel. If you're celebrating the holidays somewhere other than home this could be a good solution for you too.
7. I'm in the kitchen.
Meal preparation is such a big part of the holiday season. Some of my favorite memories have been made with friends and family sipping wine and making meals in the kitchen. For baby this season, a busy kitchen is a myriad of potential burn hazards- hot ovens, open flames and hot liquids. Keep these things in mind while you're cooking- turn panhandles inward, add a stove guard and keep hot liquids out of baby's reach (my parents visited for Thanksgiving and I can't tell you the number of times I moved a cup of hot coffee of the edge of the table!). Side bar- this has nothing to do with food but because we're talking about burns, can I just add curling irons, flat irons and good old fashioned clothing irons with dangling cords are super interesting to babies, ask visitors to place hot irons high out of baby's reach. Okay, back to food. During all the excitement of the holidays, remind your baby to sit, chew slowly and enjoy the food that you've prepared (and lovingly cut into small 1 inch pieces. Such a good mommy!)
8. The best way not to worry this holiday season?
Keep your baby MEDBASICS home and travel packs where everyone can find them... just in case!
At the end of the day, you can't possibly control everything or everyone but you can rest easier know you've done your best to keep your baby safe this holiday season.
Know more. Worry less.
