Section 1 Safety Practices and Policies

                   Working with Infants and Toddlers

          

          Life as a child care professional or parent can be challenging, especially when you employ the active lifestyle of our infants and toddlers.  Children are small and anxious to discover everything our world has to offer.  It is important to identify possible threats and potential hazards early in order to prevent possible dangerous situations.

Potential hazards around us:

1.      Loose items on the floor, small toys, food, balloons etcetera.

2.      Chemicals, including cupboards unlocked storing chemicals

3.      Stairs, climbable items, couches or beds

4.      Cords and other objects that can wrap the neck

5.      Drowning, unattended bathing, or child near pool.

Items on the Floor

Most people ignore small items, a magnet stuck under the stove, or a Lego tucked in between the couch cushion.  These items can pose a potential choking hazard to a infant or toddler.  Children are curious they suck and chew on everything, in a way it’s how children learn about the objects and items in their environment (Loney, S. 2014).  Although, this is a normal part of growing up our children are at risk for possible contamination or choking on objects.  This can also include toys with small removable parts or food missed during clean up.

Prevention measures could include, daily clean up procedures, from frequent sweeping and vacuuming to quick scan hidden zones in the home.  Purchase of toys to large to swallow also prevent choking hazards.  Food is a large concern for some parents, because children have not yet learned to chew appropriately.  Cutting smaller tidbits will help protect your child from choking on food.  In our house we have a rule that each toy is to be put away after play, or toddler enjoys the praise from clean up.

Chemicals

            Chemicals are not always so easily avoided when policing our children, often times a child might find their way into a cupboard that is loose or fallen from a high point.  It is not the intention of any loving parent to expose their child to these situations but it is quite possible for children to encounter poisoning because of these situations.  Use of child restraints on cupboards help protect from accidental intrusion.  Also being present in the room, or use of child gates during clean up helps maintain careful separation from deadly toxic material.

            Also having a emergency phone list, with chemical or poison control accessible is important for emergencies.

Stairs

            Stairways and stairwells, are exceptionally dangerous and have the potential for possible death.  It is also possible for a child to fall from a relatively low point and suffer just as damaging injury from say a bed or couch.

            Use of child gates near stairwells are extremely helpful, some are simple by construction and prevent accidental fall by presenting a sturdy wall.  Be certain to purchase a gate, that contains  extremely tight grip for toddlers who seem to love hanging  on gates.  Discourage such behavior by calling child away in lieu of more interesting subject matter, or distract them before they continue the habit.  Larger children should also be discouraged since they may compromise the security of such gates.

            As a parent knowing how to handle injuries such as falls, or broken bones also minimizes risk to the child.  Preventing further injury, through training.

Cords

            Children are at risk for becoming entangled on many objects, not only cords but also clothing articles, curtains, and drawstrings.  This entanglement can result in lifelong injury or possible death, in some cases even loss of limb.

            Picking up cords from low hanging zones is a great way of preventing possible entanglement.  Cleaning up after vacuum cleaners or hanging lines far out of reach helps maintain proper separation from child.  For some simply shutting doors and maintaining a more centralized play zone also helps prevent accidental injury.

Drowning

            Infants and toddlers constantly explore and seek out new experiences.  Very little water is needed to suffocate a child; unattended pools of water from buckets or bathtubs are extremely hazardous areas.  Pool sides are also a major source of concern if your child loves to explore outside.

            Being present as a parent and maintaining close eye on contact while child is bathing or playing in water is important when preventing accidental drowning.  Setting up a fence line around a pool also help prevent possible injury or death.

References

Loney, S. (2014) Is Your Child Orally Fixated? Retrieved from http://www.justthefactsbaby.com/baby/article/is-your-child-orally-fixated-236