As pediatric emergency room doctors, we see first-hand the negative consequences of holiday travel with small children to un-childproofed places.

To make sure your baby, toddler or child is safe during this festive time of fun and travel, please remember these child safety tips:

• At every stop, observe the environment with an eye toward child safety: stairways without gates, Christmas tree tip-over, candles, and unlatched cupboards. Keep all objects small enough to fit into a toilet paper tube away from small children.

• Be vigilant when visiting homes that are not childproofed due to no children or no children living there for a long time.

• Homes adequately childproofed most of the year are often vulnerable during the holidays as owners disengage locks and latches to accommodate their visitors.

• The people you visit may not be used to having children around so it becomes important to remind them to be careful about such things as where they place their coffee cups and the importance of cooking with pot handles turned inwards.

• Grandma’s purse usually contains medicines that are dangerous to children. Ask that she secure it. Many adults also keep their medicines on countertops as a reminder to take them. Ask that these be secured during your visit. The potential toxicity of some holiday plants gets a lot of attention in the media, but I see a lot more children who’ve ingested their grandparent’s blood pressure pills than children who’ve eaten mistletoe.

• Cribs should be free of stuffed animals, blankets, and pillowy crib bumpers.

• Stay vigilant about everyday common household dangers such as poisoning, choking, falls, and burns (tubs and cooking accidents). Parents’ inability to monitor their children as closely during this time of year has a price. Please stay vigilant.

The holiday season is an exciting time of year, but it is also hectic and full of potential hazards when you are visiting other homes and hotels that may not be as childproofed as your home. Be aware of this, prepare in advance, and have a wonderful holiday season.


If you like these tips, please pass them to your friends, clients and colleagues.

If you have questions about child proofing your Home or Business, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (757) 200-7233 or Info@ChildSafetyHouseCalls.com.

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About Child Safety House Calls
Child Safety House Calls is led by two emergency room pediatricians and specializes in evaluating and selling through their online child safety store childproofing and child safety products such as child safety gates, childproof locks, childproof door locks, childproof gates, child proof door knobs, childproof latches, childproof drawers, childproof cabinets, baby gates, baby safety items, bathroom safety items, tub safety items and more. They provide information to parents nationwide on childproofing your home, child safety in the home, and the best childproof products. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, their team conducts child safety house calls to parents in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg.