Common household items that may seem to you not a tad bit dangerous can actually be extremely dangerous for your children. Children, especially babies and toddlers, like to put anything in their mouth, as an innate way of satisfying their infantile oral fixation.
Although oral fixation is not really a major cause for concern, it is better to keep those poisonous, sharp or hazardous items away from your toddler’s line of vision. Here are the top five common items you probably don’t know are harmful to your children.
Toys
Naturally, hard toys with detachable parts are hazardous to children because they might put these toys in their mouths and choke. But soft toys, such as teddy bears or even crib pillows, are harmful, too. Avoid crowding your baby’s crib or playpen with big pillows and teddy bears because they can choke your babies.
Jewelry
Parents who love ‘bling’ pass on their obsession to their children by letting them wear jewelry. A person should only wear jewelry if he or she wants to, for fashion purposes or self-expression. You should only let your babies wear clothes and accessories that they need for comfort and safety. They may find out how to remove that necklace or earring and put them straight in their mouth. Baby-proof your drawers well for additional safety.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Even if your personal care and beauty products are handmade or made from natural ingredients, they still contain a certain level of toxicity. Keep your perfumes, body wash or soaps, essential oils, moisturizers, conditioners, lipsticks, nail polish, and products with high alcohol content away from your toddler. If you’re cleaning in the kitchen and you need to watch your child, The NAVIgate suggests you set up a sturdy safety gate and place your baby on a safe spot, away from the toxic materials but still within your line of sight.
Paint
All types of paint are dangerous for your children, especially those with high VOC. As much as possible, paint your walls with low-VOC paint, especially your baby’s nursery or playroom. It’s okay to involve your child in art projects that involve paint, as long as you’re around to supervise every step of the way.
Plants
Indoor plants are great additions to a home, but some plants can be poisonous when eaten. As much as possible, avoid spraying liquid fertilizers to your indoor plants and go for natural homemade pesticides instead. Or, to be extra safe, hang your potted plants or place them on a spot your toddler won’t be able to reach. If you have an outdoor garden, fence it off so your child won’t wander off and go exploring when you’re not watching.
Take note of all the products and household items that are dangerous and poisonous to make sure your baby is safe in the comforts of your home. As your baby grows bigger, update your list, as well as your safety measures and baby-proofing techniques.
