Nothing quite beats the feeling you get when you’re vacationing with your family, for it spells fun times and great memories. When there are very young children in the picture however, safety measures have to be taken to prevent possible hazards.
You may be a staunch observer and implementer of all necessary measures to keep your child safe at home but holiday accommodations, in general, do not apply these same standards to their rooms. It will be up to you to ensure that wherever you’re putting up during your vacation will safe throughout your stay. Childproofing is the way to go, but before anything else, you’ll need to make a thorough survey of the whole room or apartment.
Remove or relocate fragile objects like flower vases and decor. If you have a crawling baby, get down on all fours and take a crawl ‘tour’ around the room to see what your baby might see at that eye-level, and remove all potentially dangerous objects.
Danger points: Windows and doors
Lock all windows and doors, especially those which open to balconies and patios. If this can’t be done, then ask for a room without a balcony, or you could try to book a room on the ground floor for safety. In any case, it’s always good to relocate furniture away from windows.
Children are always drawn to doors. Protect those little fingers with the use of door jammers, which are absolutely child friendly and are easily available either online or in hardware stores. Also, deter your child from venturing out of the hotel room with doorknob covers, to prevent them from opening the doors that you’d rather keep closed.
Check the safety of the furniture
Check the stability of the furniture in the room to avoid any possible toppling accidents. Do a quick check of the furniture to check for rough edges, and if any, then ask for the furniture to be removed. If the job is too tedious to get done, cover the edges with some sponge and duct tapes. Washrags or towels can also be used to cover sharp edges of tables and furniture to protect your child from injuries.
Consider bringing a travel cot
Baby cots are usually available in many hotels and if you’re comfortable using one, go ahead. If you’re not, bring a travel cot with you. There are many good ones in the market today — These are quite lightweight and they even come in their own carry bag.
Beware of bathroom hot water
Tap water in many hotels can be very hot, so don’t ever leave a toddler unattended in a bathroom. If there is a bidet, turn the water off at the wall.
Prevent electrical hazards
Ensure electrical switches and plug outlets have an automatic sliding latch or else seal off the electrical switches with tamper-proof devices. Try this: Cover the plug outlets with some handy duct tape.
Remember to unplug all electrical appliances when not in use and safely stack away remotes and other electrical appliances to avoid them ending up in little hands.
6 Safety points to keep in mind
- Pack childproofing material like door jammers, knob covers, tamper-proof locks etc., along with your luggage.
- Do not forget to carry a roll of the essential duct tape.
- Carry sponge, wash rags, or towels that act as a covering for furniture.
- Pack in a few cords to tie up loose curtain strings or electrical wires that could result in strangling.
- Keep cosmetics, medicines, and cleaners away from the reach of children.
- Bring along a first aid kit.
