We want our children’s spaces to be fun for them, but some items - including some that are designed for kids - can be dangerous. Insider talked to five pediatricians about the things to avoid to make the room safer. These are the top items they say they wouldn’t have in their own kids’ rooms.
- Toys with tiny pieces - The biggest concern is toys with small parts that could be choking hazards. Not sure if something is dangerous? If it can fit through a toilet paper roll, it’s a choking hazard.
- Super loud toys - Toys that make sounds are great, but if they’re too loud, they can actually cause hearing damage. Dr. Nkeiruka Orajiaka, an ER pediatrician and a mother of three, suggests checking the Noisy Toys List, a list of loud toys created by the Sight and Hearing Association.
- Unbracketed or unstable furniture - All five doctors said they’d make sure heavy furniture was secured to the wall so it can’t topple over. Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and mom of four, advises using a bracket, wall strap or anchor for furniture, so if kids try to climb it, it won’t tip over on them.
- A baby walker - Research shows they might not be safe and pediatrician Dr. Syeda Amna Husain warns that unsupervised babies could get to dangerous areas, like a staircase, a pool or a hot stove, in a walker.
- Heavy artwork and mirrors - These things could fall off the wall and hurt the child, or sharp corners could cause injuries.
- A toy chest - The lid could close and crush tiny fingers, or if a kid climbs inside, they might struggle to get out.
- Window blinds with long cords - Those long strings are a strangulation risk, so in 2018, a new safety standard was set and blinds are required to be cordless or have inaccessible cords. But if you have any of the older ones, cutting them can help.
- Some plants - Before you bring a plant home, make sure it’s nontoxic and safe for babies.
Source: INSIDER
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