8 Tips To Keep Your Child Safe During the Holidays

The holiday season is full of joy and excitement, but it also can bring risks for your child. Here are eight essential safety tips to help you keep your little one safe during the festivities.

Secure Holiday Decorations

If you have young children celebrating Christmas, it’s important to anchor your tree to the wall or ceiling to prevent it from tipping over and injuring them. Use unbreakable ornaments and place fragile decorations out of reach.

Be Aware of Choking Hazards

Make sure that all the little pins, plastic pieces and decorative items are cleaned up from the floor, especially if you have a baby who is crawling or a toddler who likes to put things in their mouth.

Use Caution with Lights And Cords

Check holiday lights for frayed wires or broken bulbs before use. Don’t string too many strands of lights together — no more than three per extension cord. Be sure cords are tucked away to prevent tripping or chewing by little ones. Turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house.

Choose Safe Toys

Select toys suitable for your child’s age to avoid choking hazards and other injuries. You should also avoid toys with small button batteries or ensure they are securely enclosed. In 2023, there were 10 deaths and about 154,700 injuries treated in emergency departments that were associated with toys for children 12 years and younger. So it’s vital to protect your child when you are shopping for toys and they are opening them.

Practice Fire Safety

Keep candles on sturdy surfaces and out of reach or switch to flameless options. Use a screen on your fireplace to block your child’s access and prevent burns. Also, don’t forget that smoke alarms need to be checked and batteries changed regularly. Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water and look for the “fire resistant” label when buying an artificial tree.

Watch for Food Hazards

Avoid giving small, hard food like nuts or candy to young children because of the choking risk. Ask about potential allergies when attending holiday parties or potlucks. Keep hot food and liquids away from the edges of counters and tables, where they easily can be knocked over by a young child's exploring hands. Turn pot handles toward the side or back of the stove.

Prepare for Travel

Practice car seat safety by ensuring car seats are installed correctly and that your child is buckled in properly. Be prepared for emergencies. It’s always a good idea to carry a first aid kit and your child’s medical information when traveling. Once you get to your destination, remember that the home may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots like unlocked cabinets, unattended purses, accessible cleaning or laundry products, stairways and hot radiators.

Monitor Crowded Events

Hold your child’s hand in crowded areas and designate a meeting point in case of separation.

Have young children wear a bracelet or tag with your contact information. Tracking devices and some smart watches on your child can give you another layer of security. Kids can slip away when there is a lot going on. Stay vigilant around water features, even if your child knows how to swim. Have a gate around the pool or an alarm.