Safe Trekking with Toddlers

As any parent knows, taking young children for visits away from their childproofed, kid-friendly home can be stressful – sometimes downright unnerving. New surroundings inspire kids to touch, test and even taste whatever they find. Such curiosity is natural. But for guests and hosts alike, it can make a visit anything but relaxing!

You can avoid much of this stress – and many potential dangers – by doing a little preplanning with your host and taking along a few portable safety items for on-the-spot childproofing. Before you leave home, have a quick conversation with your host about ways to protect both your child and your host’s furnishings from each other. Remember, even seasoned grandparents may have fragile collectibles, dangerous houseplants or dangling drapery cords in child-accessible spots.

Though many safety issues cannot be solved without a full room-by-room overhaul, there are several things your hosts can do to alleviate some obvious hazards. Share this brief childproofing checklist with them and ask if they mind addressing any concerns prior to your arrival:


· Move fragile or breakable items to higher spots in the room.
· Move houseplants to out-of-reach areas. Even if nontoxic, leaves, flowers and berries can pose choking hazards.
· Remove tablecloths or table runners. These can be pulled off the table, taking accessories with them.
· Move the kitchen knife block to a high pantry or cupboard shelf.
· Wind up dangling drapery cords.
· Move any medications, vitamins and hazardous kitchen and bathroom products to out-of reach or locked cabinets.

Upon arrival, take a few minutes to conduct a “safety check” before letting little ones explore this new, exciting world. Using portable devices, you can further childproof kid-safe zones and limit access to the more dangerous areas of your host’s home. Take along these handy childproofing items:


· Removable cabinet locks
· Electrical outlet caps
· Door handle guards
· A pressure-mounted safety gate
· Finger-pinch door guards
· Drapery cord wind-ups

These steps should make your visit more relaxed for both adults and youngsters, but they are not the complete answer. Temporary precautions are likely to miss many child dangers in your hosts’ home, including risks from stairways, exterior doors and windows, toilets and kitchen appliances. Remedying those may require permanent solutions.