Christmas Safety with Children.

Safety advice for the holidays.

Christmas is an exciting time but it is also a time when accidents can happen. To ensure your little one is safe this festive period, take a look at our top tips.

Toy Safety;

• Ensure that toys are age appropriate and safe for your child.
• Look out for toys which have easy access button batteries. Button batteries are small enough to be swallowed and can cause serious damage to the gastrointestinal system. Button Battery Safety | Child Accident Prevention Trust
• Ensure that you are buying toys from reputable companies who toys have passed UK safety standards.
• Magnetic toys can be dangerous if the magnets are swallowed. Ensure that the toy looks safe, if in doubt send it back. Magnets | Child Accident Prevention Trust
• Watch out for cheap copies of popular toys. They may not be made to UK safety standards and couple therefore pose a risk to your child.

Home Safety;

• Remember, Christmas novelties and decorations are not toys and they do not have to comply with toy safety regulations – place them high up and out of reach of young hands.
• Keep decorations and cards away from fires and other heat sources such as light fittings and don’t leave burning candles unattended
• Be careful not to overload plug sockets.
• Keep decorations and cards away from fires and other heat sources such as light fittings and don’t leave burning candles unattended
• Don’t forget to test your smoke alarm to ensure it is working properly.

Food and Drink Safety;

Watch out for burns

• Try to keep children out of the kitchen if you can and away from the cooker whilst you are cooking.
• Where possible use the back rings of the cooker and turn pan handles in.
• Ensure that hot drinks are kept out of reach of small children (you might need to remind you family and friends of this).

Choking

• With food, think long not chunky and narrow not wide for food like pigs in blankets, vegetables and cheese. Anything round needs cutting up.
• Ensure young child remains supervised when they are eating.

For more Christmas safety advice;

6 simple safety tips to keep children safe this Christmas

Christmas safety – RoSPA