Please share your safety tips | ExpatWoman.com
 

Please share your safety tips

1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 17:10
you can't be overprotective as they do need to learn. One friend use to safety lock everything: doors, cupboards, toilets etc. With our first DS we covered the electrical sockets but nothing else. Just made sure that nothing in his reach was something dangerous. Although now he's 3 and constantly going in the fridge, luckily to grab yogurt. DS2 we will have to be more dilligent. I remember having some of the little friends over when our oldest turned two. The other kids were into everything and the moms just looked at my DS stunned that he wouldn't touch what he wasn't suppose to. Basically he learned quick that you don't touch the stereo, dishes etc. Now I find him pulling his little bro away from those items. DD is the same with DS. As for how to teach them? Well, it's the same as with anything - you talk to them. I tell them why I don't want them to touch it (very briefly) or why I don't want them to do such-and-such. I never whisk them away from something with no explanation, because that doesn't teach them anything. I also teach them not to touch what's not theirs - which is more difficult when it comes to other children's toys, but it's still a good life lesson. Not everything is there for the taking, even if it's tempting. A lot is just repetition though. A firm "no" and being gently ushered away soon gets the message across. Now my son (20 months) just looks at me if he's about to do something he knows not to, and if I shake my head he just walks away of his own accord.
743
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 16:39
you can't be overprotective as they do need to learn. One friend use to safety lock everything: doors, cupboards, toilets etc. With our first DS we covered the electrical sockets but nothing else. Just made sure that nothing in his reach was something dangerous. Although now he's 3 and constantly going in the fridge, luckily to grab yogurt. DS2 we will have to be more dilligent. I remember having some of the little friends over when our oldest turned two. The other kids were into everything and the moms just looked at my DS stunned that he wouldn't touch what he wasn't suppose to. Basically he learned quick that you don't touch the stereo, dishes etc. Now I find him pulling his little bro away from those items.
708
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 14:48
One of my friends had left her glass vases out at floor level (where they were usually displayed), which I thought very brave, but her explanation was that her son needed to learn that some things are not to be touched... which is a very good point when you're going round houses or shops which haven't been baby/ toddler-proofed. Tracy Hogg too writes about this in the Baby Whisperer. About kids understanding that certain things belong to Mummy, and are not toys.
406
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 14:40
Hello.Again.Kitty... Would like to ask you how did your friend teach her LO, not to touch certain things? You can baby proof your own house and would keep everything at bay, but how do you teach your kid not to touch something at someone else's house.
95
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 11:45
If you are using an adjustable cot make sure you adjust the level before its too late. my DD tipped over and fell out- luckily bum first!
129
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 11:29
best advice i ever got was from my midwife she told me get down on your hands and knees so u will see everything from your childs level and anything u see dangerous is there for baby to get at.AND cover sharp edges had a bid fright when ds fell and cut just above his eye!!!hope that helps
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 11:23
First and foremost remember that our children have to learn what they can do safely and what they can't, so it's up to you to make sure they can't do any serious harm, but also that their environment isn't covered in bubble-wrap. From experience, I've discovered that (my) children only make the same mistake once or twice (bumps, climbing, falling, doing "stupid things"...) and will generally lose interest in doing something daft if you don't make a huge fuss about it or will stop trying when it's clear all they're getting is a firm "no". Have a drawer in your kitchen which bubs can access - I filled mine with the tupperware boxes... that way, s/he can explore and "help mummy" but without harm. My current kitchen is too small to have that luxury, so I've made it clear that it's no access when I'm in it and they don't go in. How you react to things will also have a bearing - try not to panic, whip them away, etc... save that for when they try and run into the road. Sometimes it's also helpful to understand what they're after. My son likes sockets... well, in fact he doesn't, he likes switches (pretty harmless) and so when he goes for a socket, he is only interested in flicking the switch and not trying to electrocute himself. I still discourage it, because he's flicked the switch to my PC a few times before now, but it's not actually dangerous. One of my friends had left her glass vases out at floor level (where they were usually displayed), which I thought very brave, but her explanation was that her son needed to learn that some things are not to be touched... which is a very good point when you're going round houses or shops which haven't been baby/ toddler-proofed.
 
 

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