Tips for a Safer Holiday Season!

Posted by Devon, Consumer Representative on Jan 30th 2018

December is Safe Toys and Celebrations Month!

The holidays are upon us with friends and family coming together to celebrate. It can be a distracting time for families as they prepare for new house guests, put up holiday decorations and purchase toys! With all of the added commotion, it's easy to miss the new safety hazards that come with the season.

We want to make sure you and your family have the safest holiday season possible. Check out our tips below on how to keep your children safe during the busy holiday season:

Holiday Decorating

Holiday decorating can get a little more trickier once you have little ones walking and crawling around the house. Here are some helpful tips when you put up your holiday decorations this year:

Instead of putting the tree in a room commonly used as a play space, place your tree is a lesser-used room such as a study or office
If you’d like to have the tree in a more central location, try placing the tree in a playpen
To avoid your tree toppling over, try anchoring it with string or fishing line
Place figurines and keepsakes out of reach
Caution! Warning! Avoid decorating with real holly or mistletoe in areas accessible to small children as both are toxic when consumed

Decorating the Christmas tree is a fun tradition for many families. As a parent, it is very important to pay close attention to the type of decorations you choose when you have children in the house. Make sure to:

Consider the height of your children when placing decorations on the tree that might poke, scratch etc.
Be aware of items that may be choking hazards -light strings and hanging cords are very dangerous
Use ribbon instead of metal hooks to hang ornaments
Use safe electrical lights that do not have damaged wiring – cover unused outlets
Candles should be out of reach of young children

Toy Safety

I’m sure many of you are already caught up in holiday shopping craziness! Holiday shopping can be stressful and overwhelming. When purchasing gifts for your children, you’ll want to keep in mind some important safety tips:

Read all warnings and instructions on packaging, inspect before purchasing
Ask yourself if the toy is suitable for your child’s ability and age
If your family includes kids of many ages, make sure the younger kids don’t get into the older kids’ toys
Look for the letters “ASTM.” This designation means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards
For parent’s peace of mind, limit toys that are loud. Repetitive noise can make a house crazy!
Explain to your child how to use the toy
Consider food and other allergies
Check for recalls by visiting the Consumer Products Safety Commission website (https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls)