Toddlers Health and safety

Nothing is more important than your little one's safety. Little ones are particularly vulnerable to illness and accidents, and as a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your little one stays out of harm's way.

The best thing you can do is keep an eye on your toddler as much as possible, but since you can't do that 24/7, and sometimes toddlers move too quickly for you to intervene, so you will need to childproof your home. Since your toddler is starting to walk and become mobile, this means that he or she can get into all sorts of trouble.

This means putting all medications, harmful substances, sharp and potentially dangerous objects in out of reach places, or putting locks on cupboards. It also means using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, putting plug covers on all electrical outlets, safety devices on bath tub faucets, and ensuring large objects like dressers, televisions, stereos, book shelves, speakers, china cabinets, etc. are secured. There are products in hardware stores that can help you secure these items to the wall. Also, don't leave your child unattended in an infant seat on top of furniture, or counters. Exercise caution when your child is on the changing table, and remove crib bumpers once your child is able to use them to climb out of the crib.

Your toddler is bound to get sick, and when this happens, you need to monitor temperature with a child thermometer. Use the digital thermometers to get a quick and accurate reading. If the temperature is above  100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, it is a fever. Give your toddler child acetominophen as directed to bring down the fever. If the fever doesn't come down, or you just feel like the illness is serious, you should call your doctor. If a fever gets out of control in a toddler, it can be very serious, so don't hesitate to call your doctor.

Other signs of illness include cough, diarrhea, vomiting and ear pain. If your toddler has trouble breathing or has purple red spots on the skin, then it could be a serious bacterial infection, and he or she needs to see a doctor right away. Your toddler may get an ear infection, they are common at this age. In this case, antibiotics will likely be prescribed.

Pay close attention when you introduce your toddler to new foods and watch for any signs of allergies. If you suspect your child has any allergies, have him or her tested by your doctor. Also watch for any signs of ashma. Avoid using bacterial soaps and wipes, since they make it more likely that your child will develop an allergy or asthma. Also watch for any allergic reactions from bug, especially bee stings, since these can be serious.

You should also have a first aid kit handy for any bumps, bruises and scrapes. If your toddler is bitten or scratched by a cat or dog that you know has had shots, then alcohol and antibacterial ointment applied to the injury should suffice. If you don't know if the dog or cat has had shots, you should take your toddler to see the doctor.

Even if you take all of these precautions, things can still go wrong. That's why it's important to keep all emergency numbers, such as your child's doctor, and poison control handy by the phone or on your speed dial. You should also have working fire and carbon monoxide detectors. If you can learn CPR, it's a good idea. If you believe your child has a weight problem, see your doctor. You may have to adjust your toddler's diet and increase the amount of exercise he or she gets.