Child-Proof Your Holiday

Keep youngsters safe in unfamiliar places

Young children don’t take too well to a room full of no-nos, so you’ll have to take it upon yourself to secure the environment from safety hazards.

Childproofing your home away from home should be a top priority when settling in to your destination. Some hotels provide child-proofing kits but don’t count on it. If you’re staying with friends or relatives, their homes may not be toddler-proofed to your standards.

Here’s what you can do to keep your new environment safe for your toddler:

• Get on your hands and knees and explore the room from your curious, climbing, active toddler’s perspective.
• Secure any loose phone cords or electrical wires your child might be tempted to tug on with a strip of duct tape.
• Ensure balcony doors are locked and there is no climbable furniture near the railing.
• Make sure no furniture is placed or can be moved near open windows.
• If necessary, bring along a portable guardrail or push the bed against a wall with a chair along the other side to protect your toddler from rolling out at night.
• Look for sharp coffee table corners and other bumping hazards. If possible, move this furniture out of your toddler’s play space or pad the corners with a padded edge cushion (a standard baby proofing item) or simply tape a washcloth over them.
• Check under beds and in low drawers for small objects that might be harmful – for example, a dropped pin, pill or button.
• Pack some plastic covers for electrical outlets – or cover with a strip of duct tape.
• Tie up cords on any window blinds so they aren’t a choking hazard to your exploring child – a twist tie or pipe cleaner will do the trick.
• If you’re a guest in someone’s home, check that medications and household cleaners are secure from your child’s path of exploration.
• Make sure you don’t leave your own razors, medicines or other toiletry hazards where your child may discover them.
• You might want to bring an adjustable safety gate to secure a stair case if that’s a potential danger zone for your toddler.
• Pack some cupboard latches – or wrap some pipe cleaners or strong rubber bands around the handles or knobs of cupboards you don’t want your tyke getting into.
• Make sure you test the water temperature where you’re staying before giving your child a bath – it might come in hotter than what you’re used to at home.
• Pack a toilet latch if your little one is fascinated with this porcelain water toy or secure it with a strip of duct tape.