Though the kitchen is a fun and interesting room for curious toddlers, it is the most commonplace for serious and fatal childhood injuries. Common injuries in the kitchen include poisoning, falls or burns from hot food, water, oil or other liquids.
Design a safe kitchen
- Most serious dangers can be eliminated by safely designing the kitchen.
- Stoves or cooking ranges should not be next to doors or windows. While cooking, windows with curtains or drapes should be well tugged in.
- Kitchen appliances and sink should be at a proper distance and away from the stove.
- Installing non-slip flooring will prevent falls and tripping.
- Placemats should be used instead of tablecloths. Tablecloths can be easily pulled, causing hot food and drinks to trip.
- Cleaners, dishwashers, soaps, laundry supplies and other dangerous products should always be stored out of the reach of children.
- Dangerous substances should never be transferred into emptied food containers.
- Knives, forks, scissors, and other sharp instruments should always be kept in latched drawers or in a locked shelf.
- Electrical appliances should be unplugged when not in use. Cords should not be left dangling.
- Matchboxes and gas lighters should be out of reach and out of sight of children.
- Keep kitchen garbage in a latched cupboard
Using the kitchen safely
- Educate your toddler about the dangers in the kitchen. Set rules about what is off-limits for them to touch.
- While cooking preferably use the back burners. Turn pot handles toward the back or middle of the stove.
- Be careful while handling wet utensils/hands near hot oil. Even a drop of water can splash the oil.
- Keep hot food and drinks away from the table or kitchen platform edges.
- All sharp chopping instruments should be back in the shelves after use and should not be left unattended.
- Keep foods that could cause choking, such as beans, carrots or nuts, out of reach.
- Wipe up spills quickly.
- Canadian Paediatric Society; https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/basic_home_safety_a_checklist
- The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne; https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Safety_Around_the_home/
- Adapted from Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age Five; American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/...
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles; https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/keep-your-child-safe-from-househol...