If you’re like most families, your holiday calendar looks like you’ve started a new job, had three kids AND invited the entire extended family to stay over at your place for a month! It’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of the holiday season and throw caution to the wind, but when you have a baby around, that can lead to disastrous consequences.
There are a few things you can keep in mind, however, that will help you and your family have a fun holiday season without any drama.
Watch the plants
Many plants are actually quite dangerous if ingested. If you think your baby may have eaten some, call poison control immediately. Among the greatest culprits at this time of year are poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, and amaryllis (these are also dangerous for house pets too!). It’s best to make sure that all houseplants are out of reach of little hands or get the fake kind, as they are just as pretty but much safer.
Tree safety
And the greatest holiday plant of all? The Christmas tree. This is a regular source of injury every holiday season but with just a few steps, you can make it safe.
- Anchor the tree to the wall. Whether that is with a piece of fishing line or other string, you want to anchor it securely. Kids are surprisingly strong and could, with a well placed yank, pull the whole thing down on top of them. Even the sturdiest stand can tip if baby is using the tree to pull herself up.
- Keep breakable ornaments, including lights, out of baby’s reach. Same with popcorn and cranberry strings or tinsel. You can also use baby gates to protect the tree when baby is up and about. Another idea is to not decorate the bottom part of the tree.
- Keep the tree needles swept up, as they could hurt a child’s mouth or throat if ingested.
Visiting Others
Traveling over the holiday season to visit relatives is ubiquitous, but just remember that people who don’t have young kids aren’t likely to have their home fully baby-proofed. While you aren’t going to let them run wild in Uncle Milton’s house, you still want to do what you can to make sure baby is safe.
When you arrive at your destination, do a sweep of the spaces baby will be spending time in and see what you can do to eliminate dangers: open sockets without covers (bring a few along with you), glass figurines within reach, the aforementioned plants, and so on.
Be aware of things like fireplaces and candles and never leave baby unattended within reach of either. In addition, children should never be left alone with a family pet. A dog that is unused to having their tail pulled could defend itself with baby suffering the results.
Your best bet is to bring along a portable playpen so there is somewhere safe where baby can play when you enjoy your glass of eggnog.
Party time
If you’re hosting or attending a party with baby, it’s best to make sure that one person is in charge of baby; you can even ask your your teenage niece to act as a mother’s helper, for a fee, of course!
Ask people to keep their drinks on a higher table, away from baby’s grasp. Though he or she is unlikely to drink the contents, just the glass dropping from a height could be painful. Choking hazards like peanuts, popcorn, or even crudites platters should all be kept on a table, out of reach.
And while everyone seems to gather in the kitchen, a good rule of thumb is to keep baby out of there when it’s crowded with cooking, eating, and drinking.
Hindi Zeidman, founder of The Ollie World – Ollie Swaddle, knows from her experience as a social worker, with a focus on infant mental health, the importance of keeping little ones safe. The Ollie Swaddle’s special design and patented fabric helps babies sleep longer and better, decreases fussiness, and helps baby self-calm. Ollie Swaddle’s elasticity allows for freedom of movement while the opening at the bottom makes it easy to change diapers. The custom developed, patented moisture wicking material reduces overheating, promoting physiological regulation. Visit Ollie Swaddle or connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.