Let’s Talk About: Toddler Safety Tips

 

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What do you think is the easiest parenting stage? I hear some moms say that they like the stage when babies are firstborn until they become mobile. You know the time when you put them down and you know exactly where they are going to be even if you turn your head or walk away for a moment? When babies start rolling over and crawling it creates a whole new world for parent and child. Some parents will tell you that they think that parenting gets easier when their children get older and can walk and even talk. Each stage is so different but as your child grows new challenges happen each day. As your child develops they learn new skills and some may make it easier and some may make it harder on parents.

 

And then there is this unique stage in between baby and toddler. Even though the child is technically a toddler at the age of one this stage is defined when the babies are mobile but not quite ready to be on their own. They are learning autonomy and growing at a rapid pace testing boundaries, learning new skills, and exploring their world. As parents we want to give them as much independence as we can to create a secure attachment, however, there is only so much independence you can give a small child at that age without them getting themselves into a dangerous situation where they could get hurt.

 

We are currently in this stage with our son.  As a second time toddler mom, somehow I thought it would be easier during this stage but somehow I feel like I am more anxious about safety the second time around! Now that my son has reached toddlerhood, he wants to walk freely throughout the house and cannot easily be contained in one spot. He loves to walk, run, climb, and play! I have to constantly watch him to make sure he isn’t getting into something dangerous even though our home is baby proofed! We put up our North States Light The Way baby gates on the stairs (read my full review here), our cabinets are locked, our furniture is secured, we put plug protectors into the wall outlets, and we secured down our furniture, but where do you keep your child safe when you can’t focus on them with your full attention? If I am working at the computer, doing laundry, cooking dinner, or putting the dishes away and my back is turned, something could happen in a moment’s notice if they are not in a safe and secure space. I need to know he is in a safe place where he can still have room to walk around and play with his toys.

We personally have found nothing makes us feel more safe than our new North States 3-in-1 Extra-Wide Gated Wood Barrier Superyard. I love that this play yard is sturdy and tall (30 inches high tall) and has long poles so he cannot climb his way out as he has tried to do in different types of other structures like his pack and play. It even has an self-closing door with a child-proof double locking system as well as a hold-open feature for him to come in and out at our discretion. The Superyard comes with 6 panels, which encloses up to 10 square feet, but you can order 2 or more extension panels to make it as big as you want. And you can position the panels in 3 different ways: as a barrier around the fireplace, as a portable play yard, or as a 151 inch barrier that can act as an extra wide gate anywhere in your home to keep your child safety in one room. It is so adjustable that you can position it in different shapes suited for your living area space. The play yard even comes in different wood colors to match your home decor. We chose the gray color because it matched best with our furniture. And it is a great investment because you can use this play yard for babies and toddlers 6 to 24 months of age.

When our son in there, it is the only time I know I can leave the room if need to and he will be safe. I usually put on some music and give him some toys and he is content as can be. And there are even some times where he is in there and I do a puppet show for him outside of the gates so he feels like he’s not caged in somehow, like that it is as a punishment to be in there. I introduce it to him each day as a special play area and he looks forward to going in and having his own space. I also think that he likes the fact that he can have a space where his sister isn’t allowed.

And when he’s not in the play yard, I let him explore his surroundings to learn right from wrong and safe and unsafe. When he is going down the stairs or trying to get down from the couch I teach him to turn around to get down. When he is crawling under the table I teach him to watch his head before he stands up. And I have also taught him that when he sees something small on the ground to not put it in his mouth but to come hand it to me. Being a parent is hard work but North States makes it so much easier for us. I honestly don’t know what I would do without my play yard. We use it every day and because it is so easily folded and doesn’t take up much space we even take it with us when we travel. It has been a lifesaver for us and our children.

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Photos: Chrissy Walther Photography