June is National Safety Month. This week we’re talking to Dr. Kendi, Medical Director of Safe Kids Worldwide, about the best ways to keep your home safe & organized for your little ones. We also talk about why it’s important to start baby proofing BEFORE the baby arrives and we ask her to answer your Instagram Story questions.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Tide.
Our Conversation with Dr. Kendi
Let’s start with baby-proofing 101: When you are introducing a child into your home, at what point should you start childproofing?
Do you have any personal hacks when [standard baby proofing] items don’t work? Are there any products that you are absolutely loving right now or that you can recommend?
What is the #1 injury or accident you see in your patients that can be fixed with organization or safety precautions?
How worried should I be about [my kids] putting dirt, bugs or plants in [their] mouth?
What information should all parents leave behind for a babysitter, parents or anyone who is watching their kids [in case of emergency and] at all times?
How do you keep your little ones away from the stove or oven?
Is there any cleaning supplies that are safe and natural for kids/family and pets or do you recommend that people start making their own?
At what age is it appropriate to start letting them use knives or sharp objects around the kitchen?
For a curious child, getting ahold of laundry packets can be extremely dangerous, and they need to be handled with great care to prevent unintended exposure. Do you have any tips on how to limit that exposure?
How do you secure a home with stairs and a toddler who climbs over all the baby gates?
I’ve seen videos of kids climbing over and escaping their cribs. What advice do you have for those parents?
How do you secure the front door with a toddler/child that can reach all the locks?
How do you recommend hiding TV/internet/phone wires from teething children?
Do you have any safety tips when leaving tweens/teens home alone? What are some skills the kids should have in order to be left alone?
How do you organize hazardous toys that your older children love but could be a choking hazard for little ones?
Pick or Tip of the Week
We must love keeping tidy if all of our picks have to do with organization and cleaning. 😂 Dr. Kendi has a busy schedule as a full time physician, researcher, and with her husband & daughter. She is loving Google Keep, a new task list app that updates in real time. She can jot down notes, attach pictures, and create a grocery list to assign to her husband on her busiest days. 😉 It’s now available on the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.
Paulina suggests baskets as her organizational tip. From tiny baskets to big baskets, she has them filled with toys in the living room, bedroom, and the hallway. Not only do they look pretty, but they also hide the mess!
Bricia’s cleaning pick is the Tide PODS Free and Gentle: Laundry Detergent Packs. Not only does the white box look great when it’s high up on the counter, but she loves them so much more than the liquid detergent. Who knew there was so much innovation out there?
Links
Visit Popsugar.com for more tips on how to have a tidy & safe home and look for the article titled, “Unexpected Areas en Tu Casa That Could Use a Kid-Safety Upgrade”.
For more tips on child safety around the home, check out this video here.
