Child Safety for Grandparents

You may have already raised one set of children, but now there is another set ready for your attention- your grandchildren. Before you lavish those youngsters with affection and spoil them rotten, check to make sure that your home is safe for them. If you are like most new grandparents, it has been awhile since such small children roamed freely in your home.

Check the current lists of recalled products then check throughout your home to make sure that nothing is on the list. Many of the products that were thought to be safe in the past are now considered unsafe and potentially dangerous.

Young children are guided by their field of vision. If something captures their attention, they are going to go after it. Infants explore with their hands, feet and mouths, so be sure to never leave the child unattended.

Put your grandchild to sleep on his or her back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath.

Make sure the crib is sturdy, with no loose or missing hardware; used cribs may not meet current safety standards.

Do not give grandchildren toys or other items with small parts, or tie toys around their necks.

In a car, always buckle your grandchild in a child safety seat on the back seat- never in the front.

Older infants love to explore by poking, prodding and pulling.

Never leave your grandchild alone for a moment near any water or in the bathtub, even with a bath seat; a child is able to drown in less than 2 inches of water. Check bath water with your wrist or elbow to be sure it is not too hot; your water heater should be set at no higher than 120 degrees to prevent scalding burns.

Do not leave a baby unattended on a changing table or other nursery equipment; always use all safety straps.

If you use a baby walker for your grandchild, make sure it has special safety features to prevent falls down stairs, or use a stationary activity center instead.

Keep window blind and curtain cords out of reach of grandchildren; dress grandchildren in clothing without drawstrings.

Toddlers like to explore by climbing and playing with small objects.

Keep all medicines in containers with safety caps; be sure medicines, cleaning products, and other household chemicals are out of reach and locked away from children.

Use safety gates for stairs, safety plugs for electrical outlets, safety latches for drawers and cabinets, and locks for you medicine cabinets.

Buy toys labeled for children under age 3; these are often safety recommendations, not measures of a child's skill or ability.

Never leave your grandchildren alone in or near swimming pools.

Preschoolers thrive on activity. They love to run, jump and climb.

Keep children, and any furniture they can climb on, away from windows.

Make certain that doors to walk-in closets and pantries can be opened from the inside as well as the outside.

At playgrounds, look for protective surfacing under equipment.

Be sure your grandchildren wear helmets when riding tricycles or bicycles.

At all ages, make sure your smoke detectors work; keep matches and lighters away from children.

Keep any object that could potentially harm a child, such as a vase that could easily become broken or medicine bottles full of colorful "candy", out of the reach of all children.