GRAND Magazine - September/October 2008 - (Page 26)

toddler town Grand-proofing 4 By DeBBie BaisDen The grandchildren are coming to visit! What on earth will they get into? Take this safety checklist on a walk through the house and make the grandchildren’s visit safe and worry free (well, almost)! EntirE housE Medicines. No matter what age the grandchildren are, lock up all medications. This applies to over-the-counter medications as well as prescriptions. No exceptions—the risk of poisoning or abuse is too high. Firearms. Again, age doesn’t matter. Unload and lock up all firearms. Store ammunition separately. Put the key(s) where only you have access. No exceptions. Alcohol. See above. Lock it up. Poison control. Post the national poison center number: 1-800-222-1222. Water heater. Set the temperature no higher than 120°F. Electrical. Cover all unused outlets with outlet covers or plates. Make sure all lamp- and appliance cords are out of reach. Smoke detectors. One outside every room where someone will be sleeping. Windows. Install window guards in rooms above the ground floor. Houseplants. Many common houseplants are deadly if eaten. Move out of reach. Put anything smaller than a ping-pong ball in a safe place—it’s a choking hazard: knickknacks, coins, jewelry, batteries, candy, decorative stones or marbles, etc. Use doorknob covers, hook latches or safety gates to keep children out of rooms you can’t completely grand-proof. Don’t forget doors leading to the garage, outside or the basement. Curtain cords and blind cords. Tie up or install safety tassels and stops to prevent strangulation. Plastic bags. A suffocation risk—store all grocery bags, drycleaner bags, garbage, storage and sandwich bags out of reach. Stairs. Install safety gates at the top and bottom. Fireplaces. Use a fireplace screen. Cover gas valves or remove the key. Hide matches out of reach. Furniture. Secure heavy furniture against tipping. Children’s furniture/equipment. Check for recalls (some may contain lead paint, for example). kitchEn Cabinets and cupboards. Pots and pans are fun to play with; drain cleaner is not. Install cabinet door safety latches. Check lower cabinets using a hand mirror. You may not remember what’s down there, but a toddler will find it. Dishwasher. A preschooler will open the dishwasher and pull out the steak knives. Install a dishwasher lock. Stove/range. Keep pot handles turned to the back. Consider removing lower range knobs temporarily. Refrigerator. Remove small magnets. Trash can. Store behind a closed door or use one with a tight-fitting lid. Pet food and water. Toddlers will eat it and drink it. Move pet dishes to where kids can’t reach them but Fido and Fluffy can. Tablecloths. What fun to pull down! Use plastic, hard-to-pryup place mats instead. Bathrooms Secure doors to keep toddlers out. Stash bath products, toiletries, makeup and first-aid supplies out of reach. Make sure you can unlock the bathroom door from the outside. GaraGE There are too many hazards for a garage to be effectively childproofed, so make it inaccessible. Secure doors leading from the house. outsidE Pools and hot tubs. Adult supervision always. Make sure safety devices are working: alarms, gate locks, covers, etc. Garden equipment and supplies. Lock garden tools in the garage or shed along with all pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals. Outside plants. Many are extremely poisonous. Keep younger children away. Vehicles. Keep vehicles locked—children can get trapped in a car. Also, be absolutely certain you know where the children are before you move your vehicle. G More to the story: page 68. 28 GRAND SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2008 Dollhouse highlanDToys.coM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2008

Grand Magazine- September/October 2008
Grand View:�Priceless
Contents
Isn't it Grand?: Picture Perfect
Winners!: GRANDparent of the Year
Grand Central
Toddler Town:�Grand-proofing
Ask Grand:�Two Tired
Tips on Teens: The Bar Mitzvah Trips
Just So We Know:�BPA Not Our BFF
Full House-Full Heart-Full Time:�Confessions of a Backyard Grand
Grandbloggers: It Takes a Village
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Family + Food = Fun
On the Cover: Nora Roberts A Fine Romance
Everything Was Fine Until You Showed Up
Happy Big Sister Day
Looking Grand:�Elementary, My Dear
All in the Family:�Pasta, Present and Future
Reunions:�Doubleheader
Inspirations:�Grandpa's Violin
Grand Bazaar
More to the Story
Grand Finale:�Long Ago Under the Sun

GRAND Magazine - September/October 2008