If babyproofing seems like another task on an already endless holiday to-do list, you’re not alone. Merrily multitasking parents can (understandably) struggle with keeping seasonal safety in mind, experts say.
“Parents may become distracted during the holidays—decorating the house, hosting out-of-town relatives, and cooking for a large group of people,” says Leslie Young, MD, a pediatrician and primary care physician at MemorialCare Medical Group in Lakewood, Calif.
It can be difficult to anticipate every single hazard, such as when guests bring medication that might be more easily accessible than usual for curious kids.
In addition to stress and distraction, there are other factors at play. “Kids get so much in terms of new toys,” says Darria Long, MD, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis. She adds that in the rush of opening gifts, they sometimes go from “zero to 180,” jumping on toys like hoverboards without really knowing how to use them yet. Visiting people in homes that aren’t babyproofed adds to the risk.
“[It] just absolutely ups both the risk to babies and toddlers—and the stress levels for parents!” Long says. “I always recommend that parents either travel with or rent a few key items to keep their youngest ones safe and also allow them to relax themselves.” She says that renting a crib or bassinet—rather than using the one your parents still have from when you were a baby—can be especially helpful, along with a high chair and “baby safe space” like a play yard or an activity center.
In 2023 the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that more than 145,000 toy-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms among children 12 years old and younger. Of those injuries, over 50 percent were to the head and face regions, including lacerations and abrasions. Foreign objects in the body also ranked in the top three injuries treated in ERs for this age group. The good news is that the CPSC reported a significant decrease in injuries among children in all age groups since 2015.
Here’s how parents can lower the risk of spending the holiday season in the ER rather than celebrating at home.
