Safety Practices and Policies

The age that I choose to explore more is infants and toddlers. Most parents do not realize that at this age how curious children are and how quickly something can happen. Things that we do not normally think about or realize could be a hazard or dangerous are very much so for infants and toddlers. Although parents may be excited about the new things their child is doing during this time, they must also be cautious as well.

1. Choking is a safety hazard. Children are notorious for putting things in their mouths and can sometimes move faster than adults. It is very important to measure the size of an object to make sure that a child cannot choke on it. In my daycare home I keep and use on a frequent basis a “device for measuring small parts to prevent choking.” (Robertson, C. 2010) We also inspect toys and play equipment for any loose or small pieces that may come off posing an injury or choking hazard.

2. Another issue we must be careful of,are cords and electrical outlets. Cords must be hidden so children cannot see or reach them. My philosophy is out of sight, out of mind. Infants and toddlers love to try to stick things into electrical outlets so they must be covered with outlet covers. This will help to deter the child.

3. Poison/Chemicals must be kept locked and out of reach of children. All items considered must be kept in a locked out of reach area from children. At this age even a small amount of toothpaste could be poisonous. According to the text (Robertson, C. 2010), “Poisoning can occur in five ways; Ingestion, contact, inhalation, animal, insect or reptile bites and injection.” At my daycare home I am constantly on the lookout for anything that could be considered poisonous to the children. The number for poison control is posted by the telephone in case of emergency. I also speak with parents about known allegories such as to pets or insects and that information is kept located by the telephone as well.

Reference: Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.