Important child safety tips in and around the kitchen

Safe Kids Worldwide reports that 3.5 million children are sent to the emergency room and 2,200 die from injuries that occur in the home every year, many of which happen in the kitchen.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and the place where memories around the dinner table are made. Sadly, the kitchen is also one of the most dangerous parts of a house, especially when it comes to toddlers and young children.

Here are some ideas on how to improve child safety in the kitchen.

Be aware of hot appliances

When using hot appliances such as the stove, always ensure that an adult is in the kitchen as young children often reach for pots or pans not knowing that they are hot or in use. It is relatively easy for the contents to fall on them as well and this can cause serious injury.

Invest in safety latches

You can install covers on the stove dials, depending on the type of stove you have – so that your child cannot turn the stove on when not in use. In addition, refrigerator doors can be locked, together with other kitchen cupboards that contain items that may be of danger to your child. These may include cupboards with detergents and cleaning products, cutlery and other sharp items as well as electrical appliances.

Dishwashers and washing machines can also pose a great danger to your child. Children love to pull open and push shut doors. They also like to wriggle into tight spots adults might not even consider. Again, invest in safety latches for these appliances.

Good to know: You can purchase inexpensive plastic safety locks from most hardware and parenting stores for your cabinets, drawers, refrigerator, and oven.

Ensure the bin is always covered or closed

Your dustbin should be covered at all times to prevent your child from gaining access to items that have been discarded.

Store sharp knives in your upper cupboards

As your toddler grows, he or she will soon be able to open drawers and reach inside. For this reason, you should take preemptive action by relocating any knives (or other sharp instruments) to a higher cupboard that will remain out of your child’s reach instead of storing them in a drawer that is waist-height.

Also, place knife blocks on the far counter or in an upper cabinet that is unreachable to your child.

A word on exposed electrical wires 

A child’s first instinct is to pull on a dangling cable when they see one. That cable could fall and injure the child if it is connected to a countertop toaster. You can avoid this danger by putting appliances away when they’re not in use, or by keeping all cables out of the way.

You can prevent your child from inserting a fork, finger, or tongue into an outlet by inserting plastic socket covers.