When you’re decorating, shopping for toys, and hosting friends and family, it’s easy to overlook the little things that keep young children safe.
La Plata County Public Health encourages families to take a few simple precautions. The holidays often bring more visitors, more stuff lying out, and plenty of distractions. These changes require parents to up their safety game. A quick scan of your home can make the season safer without taking away the fun.
Kids younger than 5 love to explore the world by grabbing, pulling and putting things in their mouths. Holiday lights, extension cords and power strips can pose tripping hazards and electrical dangers for toddlers. Be sure to keep cords out of walkways, unplug decorations when you are asleep or away, and use outlet covers to keep children from sticking things in electric sockets. Small decorations like ornaments, hooks and tinsel can also be choking hazards if easy to reach. Consider placing breakable ornaments higher on the tree, securing tabletop decorations and keeping small items off the floor.
Once the home is decorated, another big change during the holidays are new gifts. Toy shopping and gift-opening add another layer of risk for toddlers. Small toys and toy parts are a choking hazard for young children. Before you buy, do a quick check: If a toy or parts of it can pass through a toilet paper roll, it’s unsafe for a child younger than 3. Keep an eye out for button batteries and small magnets, too. Those small magnets are actually pretty strong and can cause real trouble if swallowed. When it’s time to open gifts, clean up packaging quickly. Batteries, magnets, plastic bits and twist ties always seem to end up on the floor, right where toddlers love to crawl.
Toys aren’t the only choking concern this season. Holiday foods are another common source of choking for little ones. Hard candy, nuts, popcorn, marshmallows and large slices of meat or cheese are common holiday foods that can be choking hazards. Slice foods like grapes or sausages down the middle instead of just chopping them up and supervise toddlers when they eat, especially in busy rooms where they may try to run or play with food in their mouths.
And because holiday meals often involve a packed house with everyone moving around, supervision can be harder. Even families who usually keep a close watch on their kids can lose track when things get busy. So, make a plan by designating who is watching the children at different times during the day. Set up a safe zone with age-appropriate toys, somewhere away from the kitchen and anything fragile. This way toddlers have a spot to play, and it’s easier for adults to keep an eye on them.
And because the grown ups are often focused on cooking during gatherings, the kitchen needs extra care. Cooking fires are the most common cause of home fires in the United States, and they happen more often on big holidays. When cooking, keep kids at least three feet away from burners, ovens, grills and other hot appliances. Turn pot handles inward, keep hot drinks and dishes away from counter edges and avoid holding a child while you prepare food.
With so much all happening at once, the holidays can feel overwhelming for parents and caregivers. If you need a little help, you’re not alone. LPCPH encourages families who want extra support to consider SafeCare, a voluntary, evidence-based program that helps build practical safety and supervision habits at home. The SafeCare home-safety module guides caregivers room by room to spot hazards, reduce risks and create realistic supervision plans that fit their space and daily routines. SafeCare providers can also supply free childproofing tools such as cabinet locks, outlet covers and baby gates.
A few minutes of planning now can prevent trips to the emergency room during the holidays. With safe toys, safer spaces, clear supervision and extra care around cooking, families can focus on what the holidays are meant for: time together.
If you would like to learn more about the support that SafeCare Colorado can provide, email safecare@lpcgov.org or call 828-8825.
Tracy Anselmo is director of the La Plata County Public Health Department. Reach her at tanselmo@lpcgov.org.
