"When you live with kids, especially babies and toddlers, basically everything is a hazard. That’s why we secure dressers to walls, put up baby gates, and add toddler-proof latches on cabinets, right? But even the most baby-proofed home is susceptible to safety hazards. With big holidays coming up, parents should start thinking about potential holiday safety hazards, too. The most wonderful time of the year is filled with decor and items that don’t usually grace our homes for most of the year, so it’s important to take inventory of what could lead to potential danger.
Below you’ll find a list of common holiday hazards for kids to avoid this year, as well as all the tips you need to keep yourself and your kids safe this holiday season.
The Most Common Holiday Hazards for Kids
Parents already have a lot to think about during the holidays. Between having a list and checking it twice, planning for holiday parties, and making sure everyone’s dressed for every occasion, parents’ plates are full. When considering common holiday dangers, it’s not the goal to add yet another task to the to-do list. Instead, hopefully recognizing what could potentially go wrong will actually make enjoying the holidays easier.
Consider some of the most common holiday hazards for kids:
- Small batteries that pose choking hazards
- Burns from candles, kitchen appliances, etc.
- Alcohol poisoning from partially empty cups
- Injuries from decor and new toys
Read on to discover some additional concerns for holiday safety hazards, including decorations, food, electrical, and more. Plus, we’re providing all the tips you need to stay safe this year. By keeping a few things in mind, you can keep your family safe and happy this holiday season!
Decorations & Toys: What to Watch Out For
There’s truly nothing like decorating for the holidays. It’s essentially what makes the season the most magical time of the year. Unfortunately, those bright and shiny pieces of decor can quickly become holiday season hazards without us even realizing. But don’t worry, with a little awareness and creativity, we’ll all be able to keep our kids safe during the holidays. When it comes to decorations, keep these safety concerns in mind:
Stockings on the Mantle
If you hang your stockings from the mantle with heavy or pointy stocking holders (à la Christmas trees, stars, snowflakes, etc.), you may want to find a different way to secure them this year. Little ones can get seriously injured by pulling on a stocking and getting hit in the head or eye with the stocking holder that comes crashing down too.
If you absolutely love your stocking holder decor, try this mom hack: put cup hooks directly beneath the stocking holders to hang the stockings from—it will still look like your stockings are hanging from the holders… just safely! Or try these lightweight mantle hooks from Target.
Ornaments on the Tree
Don’t worry, we’re not going to tell you not to put ornaments on your tree. Just remember that small ornaments are choking hazards and glass or breakable ones are hazards for cuts. You can find plenty of beautiful, unbreakable ornaments for the parts of the tree where little hands can (and will) reach.
Tall or Heavy Decor
If kids are physically capable of touching something and knocking it over, they will. It’s science. OK, it’s not technically science, but it’s true. Kids gravitate toward novelty, so if that super heavy Santa statue or reindeer statue can fall on them, think twice about setting it up this year. The same goes for any new furniture or accent pieces you may be bringing out for the holidays—bookcases, dressers, cabinets, armoires—it should all be secured to the wall, even if it’s not in your child’s room.
Decor with Faux Berries or Other Small Elements
Is your garland or wreath adorned with little, round faux berries or other small balls? Things like these can be choking hazards as a few of them tend to fall off here and there when you’re getting out or packing up your decor. Consider opting for simpler decorative elements this year or watch for any little pieces that may pop off and roll away for small hands to find later.
Fire and Electrical Safety
Candles and Cozy Fires
Another thing I love around the holidays: winter-scented candles and a fire in our fireplace. Keep any and all fire sources far from kids and also from your tree and other decor like garland and wreaths. December and January are the peak months for home fires, so be sure to have your fireplace inspected before first use and make sure all of your smoke alarms are functioning.
Battery-Operated Decor and Toys
I love the battery-operated mini LED string lights as much as the next girl, so I have to make sure my kids can’t reach these or any other battery-powered decorations or toys. That includes making sure they can’t climb on another piece of furniture or use their footstool to them either. The button-shaped batteries are particularly risky because of their round shape (choking hazard). Any battery, though, can cause burns in the esophagus within two hours after they’re swallowed. Tape battery compartments closed that may pop open if they’re dropped. It also helps to store your batteries in a safe place away from kids.
Food Related Dangers
Holiday Cooking
The kitchen is a busy place during the holidays. It is also the room where home fires are most likely to start. Be sure to keep a close eye on anything cooking. You can also set timers to keep from getting wrapped up in the moment and forgetting about something in the oven or on the stove. For the little ones, make sure all pot handles are turned inward on the stove so they can’t be pulled down, consider kid-proofing your stove knobs, and clear all kids from the kitchen before opening ovens or transporting hot dishes from one surface to another. And, as a general rule of thumb, keep any sharp cooking utensils out of reach.
Choking Hazards
Nothing compares to baking around the holidays. I know I personally loved baking cookies with my family while growing up. But cookies, treats, and other recipes can have ingredients that are small in size and may pose a choking hazards—think nuts and even chocolate chips. Keep an eye on any choking hazards with holiday foods so everything can be enjoyed safely.
Allergies
The holidays are filled with traditions, but every now and then something new is introduced. Parents should be aware of any new foods kiddos might be trying this year for the first time. With food allergies during the holidays in mind, any new baked goods or recipes should be consumed with caution. And, if your kiddo has an allergy you already know about, be sure to check the ingredients of any treats you may be gifted from friends and loved ones.
Holiday Travel and Safety Tips
Car Safety
As with any car ride, you’ll want to make sure to use car seats properly. Consider making sure the car seat is secured properly, it isn’t expired, and that your kiddo hasn’t grown out of it. For children who are out of car seats, make sure they understand and use their seat belts properly. Especially during the holidays, traffic collisions are a major concern. With a few extra steps, you can ensure safety.
Airplane Travel Tips
When taking holiday trips with kids via airplane, be sure to look into the use of a child restraint system—which are recommended for kids under 2 years old. On top of that, it’s generally recommended to not seat small children in an aisle seat where they could easily be bumped by people and items in the aisles. Lastly, packing plenty of on-flight entertainment can help kiddos remain calm during air travel.
Stranger Safety
No matter what your means of travel are, considering stranger safety is of utmost importance. The holiday season offers tons of fun and exciting events for families to participate in. These events, however, may draw in big crowds. It becomes more important than ever to ensure your child stays close in crowded holiday events or travel hubs.
Considerations for New Toys and Clothes
The holidays are meant for new toys, but make sure those beautifully-wrapped gifts are as safe on the inside as they look on the outside. Clothing, like shoes, often comes with silica gel packets (you know, those salt packet-looking things), which should not be eaten and are choking hazards. Try to remove these before you wrap your gifts. Then, keep an eye out as gifts are being opened by friends and family. Check new toys for loose parts, small pieces, and batteries to ensure none are within reach of little ones.
Dealing with Plastic Packaging and Bags
As you and your kids enjoy opening presents (or as you’re getting presents delivered to be wrapped), be sure to dispose of any plastic packaging or bags immediately so that your kids don’t find them later. The holidays can get chaotic, especially while opening gifts and tossing wrapping paper and bows aside. Try to keep as close an eye as possible while your kids and others open their gifts.
Emergency Preparedness
Even with all of these considerations in mind and the best of intentions, sometimes bad things can happen. Holiday emergency preparedness is pivotal, and can include skills beneficial for any time of year. Here are a few things you can do to be prepared for handling holiday accidents:
- Be caught up on your first aid—know what to do for minor injuries like cuts and burns, and brush up on your CPR skills or get certified
- Especially when traveling, know where the nearest hospitals and clinics are and ensure you have a way to contact emergency services if necessary
- Know when to seek emergency help
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!