The stove is a frequent source of serious childhood injuries – all of which should be prevented. Here’s what can happen and how to avoid it from occurring.
Burns / Scalding
It is so simple, but it is worth stating for those who are not already doing so: use only the back burners and keep your pot handles turned inwards. Doing so will make it much more difficult for your little to reach something hot that she should not. It is also important to make sure that we are consistent with the messages we convey. By this I mean that, contrary to tradition, we should not let youngsters play with pots and pans. If we do, what is to stop them from thinking that a pot is still a toy when it is on the stove full of boiling water? It is best to keep your pots and pans (and just about everything else) inside latched cabinets.
Fires
Many parents are very concerned that their child may inadvertently turn on the stove and cause a fire or get burned. Most children, however, are not attracted to the stove knobs and no action is required. If your child has demonstrated an interest or fascination with the stove knobs, our best advice is to remove the stove knobs when not in use. It is easy to do so by simply pulling vertically on the knobs themselves. This simple approach tends to be more effective and parent friendly than any of the so-called “baby-proofing” knob covers (don’t fit or tedious to use) or plastic barriers (not secure, awkward and unattractive).
Tip-overs
Free standing stoves have another potentially devastating hazard – the potential to topple over onto a child that stands on the oven door. Although, it may sound remote numerous fatalities have occurred in this manner. The good news is that tip-overs are readily prevented by installing the anti-tip device that is provided with every stove upon purchase. We often encounter stoves in which the hardware was never installed and find it in a plastic bag taped to the back of the stove. It is an easy and important do-it-yourself task.
Bonks
As toddlers look for anything and everything in order to pull themselves up, they may grab on the dish towel hanging on the oven door. If they grab on both sides of the towel, they may inadvertently do so with enough force to open the oven door and get “bonked” in the face. The oven latch by SafetyFirst works well on many (but not all) ovens to keep the door closed.
Cuts, Poisoning & Choking
Latch those cabinets. Yes, it makes sense to latch everything below the counter height with the possible exception of the towel and Tupperware drawers. Use magnetic latches (Tot-Locks) for the highest hazard areas (beneath the sink and cutlery) at least. Plastic latches like the ones made by KidCo work well for the other cabinets and drawers.
Taking these precautions should make your time in the kitchen a little less stressful and a lot safer.