Holiday Tips

Seasonal Advice from UMMC Experts

Child Safety

Related Content

With another holiday season upon us, there are some important things to remember to help keep children safe and healthy. The tips on this page offer suggestions to help your little ones make the most of the holiday season.

What to Wear
Tips Provided by Richard Lichenstein, M.D.

Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Clothing for children should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant's sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred.

See Complete List of Tips from Dr. Lichenstein

Fire Safety
Tips Provided by Laura H. Finkelstein, M.D., F.A.A.P.

All extension cords should be heavy-duty enough to handle the power used by the lights and decorations. Route them so they don't cross high-traffic areas of your home or yard.
Watch infants and toddlers around electrical wires to avoid shocks from touching or biting down on "hot" wires.
Kids and fire don't mix! Fireplaces should have appropriate screens to keep baby away, but these get hot, so watch your crawling or toddling child closely.

See Complete List of Tips from Dr. Finkelstein

Safe Teen Driving
Tips Provided by Ligia Peralta, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.S.A.M.

Have supervised driving sessions with your teen. Practice makes better teen drivers as well as the reinforcement of proper driving techniques and skills.
Teach them to ALWAYS wear the safety belt. Get your teen into the habit of wearing the safety belt wherever they drive or ride. No exceptions.
Talk to your teen about drinking and drug use. Alcohol is implicated in a majority of teen driving fatalities. Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other illegal drugs is illegal and can cost your teen's license or life.

See Complete List of Tips from Dr. Peralta

Prevent Toy-Related Injuries
Tips Provided by Karen Hardingham, RN, BSN

Shop with your child's age, interest and skill level in mind. A fun, but inappropriate toy can be dangerous.
Keep toys with small parts away from children under the age of three. They can choke on small toys and toy parts. If a toy can fit through a toilet paper tube, it's too small for a young child.
Actively supervise children when they are playing with riding toys as well as toys with magnets, electrical or battery power, cords and strings.

See Complete List of Tips from Karen Hardingham

Be Aware of Possible Allergies
Tips Provided by Anupama Kewalramani, M.D.

For children with mold spore and/or pollen allergies, a live tree for Christmas can be problematic. An artificial tree may be a better idea.
For children with food allergies, when going to others' homes for holiday parties, make sure to be aware of the foods that are being passed around. Don't hesitate to ask the host/hostess for the ingredients, and make sure you're prepared with appropriate medicines, such as the child's EpiPen, in case the child does experience an allergic reaction.
Beware of cross-contamination! Foods can become tainted through cross-contamination during the cooking and baking process, or even through unwashed storage containers without the person realizing it. Coming into contact with even a tiny amount of the allergen can trigger a reaction.

This page was last updated on: November 24, 2010.