4 tips to keep your grandkids safe at your house

This Sunday, Sept. 13, is National Grandparents Day. In honor of recognizing the grandparents in our lives, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips to help keep grandparents keep their grandkids safe when they come visit.

1. Keep harmful materials out of reach. Curious children will try to eat almost anything. Be sure to lock up all potential poisons such as household cleaners, chemicals and medications. Also, put away anything that may be a choking hazard like coins, beads and toys with small parts. “You want to look at toys and other things with strings attached,” says Dr. Andrea Kane, pediatrician with Advocate Medical Group in Bloomington, Ill. “Think about if it could strangulate a child or cut off circulation to an extremity if wrapped too tightly.”
2. Baby proof the bathroom. Young children can drown in a small amount of water. Make sure you never leave them alone near a filled tub or sink. Also, purchase toilet locks and cover any handles with soft material.
3. Protect from falls. Gates are one of the best ways to protect little ones from injury. Install them at both the top and bottom of staircases. Put nonslip materials in the bathtub as well.
4. Prepare for nap time. Make sure your crib meets today’s safety standards. The one grandparents may have used for their own kids may actually be dangerous. To prevent SIDS, lay babies on their backs and keep soft objects out of the sleeping area.

Remember “back to sleep, tummy to play,” says Dr. Aaron Traeger, pediatrician with Advocate Medical Group in Bloomington, Ill.

He also advises that no stuffed animals, toys or extra blankets go in the crib.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the leading causes of death for children four and under is unintentional injury, such as suffocation, drowning and falls. This means stuffed animals, staircases, toilets and buttons are just a few things that may make your home hazardous for your grandkids.