How to quickly babyproof a hotel room or guest room
Remember the commercial featuring the mom who is distracted from watching her child because she had to answer the door and in doing so, the toddler goes off and makes mischief in the house? In a commercial, no real harm comes to baby or home. But haven’t you ever wondered what dangers your child faces at home or in the homes of relatives and friends?
Let the hotel know you are traveling with a baby or toddler, and ask if they can make any arrangements to babyproof the room in advance, some hotels offer this service.
- Pack safety items you may need, such as simple press-on outlet covers, a nightlight to protect toes in the dark, removable edge/corner guards for tables and low shelves.
- Look under the bed. This is a great place for pens, paper clips, coins, and other choking or injury hazards to hide.
- Check closets and drawers, and remove dangerous objects like pens, lighters, and matches.
- Close the bathroom door. A baby or toddler can drown in just a couple of inches of water.
- Secure loose cords and wires. A crawling baby can easily bring down a heavy lamp, so push electrical appliances away from table edges, and tuck wires out of reach.
- Tie blind cords and curtain pulls up out of reach.
- Crawl around the room. Spending a few minutes on your hands and knees will help you to identify possible hazards from your child’s level.
- Supervise your child. There’s no substitute for adult attention and supervision.
If your child will be sleeping in a big bed, bring a portable guardrail, or pull a couple of high-backed chairs next to the bed so that he can’t fall out.
Toddlers often lock themselves in bathrooms. Tape over the lock, or just keep the door closed and supervise at all times.
Close and lock all windows (even those with screens), especially those near a desk or table your child could climb onto.
Teach the rules on being a good guest. Before visiting friends or family, teach your child a few simple rules.
- Ask first before getting or eating anything
- Snooping is never allowed
- Play where adults can easily see or hear you
- No means no. Teach your child how to accept no answers and to follow your instructions. Practice these skills with your child.
- Teach them the 3-S’s of safety: Stay away if it’s too Sharp, too Small or too Secretive.
