KEEPING KIDS SAFE - MNHQ NEED YOUR TOP TIPS

[AbbyMumsnet]

Hi all, we need your words of wisdom re' keeping kids safe. The areas we want to cover are:

At home - safety gadgets, bath-time rules etc.

Road safety (pedestrian/cycling awareness etc)

Out and about with you (e.g. WWW's tip of writing your mobile number on your child's arm if you are out somewhere busy where they might get lost).

Out on their own - how do you discuss the topic of "stranger danger" without terrifying your child? Does your child have a mobile for emergencies? Etc etc.

Please, please add them here, as soon as poss!

Thanks.

[HuwEdwards]

If either one of mine were to get lost, I always tell them to approach a woman with children.

[Marina]

If we are going somewhere crowded, I make them wear a brightly-coloured, easily described top, and if possible (not easy as I have a ds and dd) in the same lurid colour
Orange or turquoise are good

[wannaBe]

if out and about, I tell him to stay where he can see me. Imo young children don't grasp the concept of staying where you can see them, but they do understand about staying where they can see you.

[HuwEdwards]

Safety gadgets-

we used:

stairgates at the top of the stairs, in case either child got up in the night and got disorientated

plug covers when they were inquisitive toddlers

cupboard locks on the cupboard containing cleaning stuff.

[Doodledootoo]

Message withdrawn

[prufrock]

Teach them from a very early age to keep themsleves safe - and if that means that they get a few bumps and bruises along the way so be it. I went mad trying to make my 2 be sensible on the slide on dd's bed, and finally gave up. tryingto supervise. 2 days later dd got a bad bang because she tried to slide down standing up - but she's never done so since.

Get the roller blind type stairgates difficult for even big kids (and visiting adults) to open. One at the top and one at the bottom of the stairs and you can keep kids wherever you want them to be

[HuwEdwards]

essentailly you need to communicate with them, mine have always known that

1. If the iron is out (ie. not in the cupboard) and even if no-one is actively using it, it still might be very hot.
   
   
2. Never throw yourself in the bath - always dip a toe in to test, first.
   
   
3. Don't answer the door without telling me first (and that means telling me and knowing I heard!)

[HuwEdwards]

essentially you need to communicate with them, mine have always known that

1. If the iron is out (ie. not in the cupboard) and even if no-one is actively using it, it still might be very hot.
   
   
2. Never throw yourself in the bath - always dip a toe in to test, first.
   
   
3. Don't answer the door without telling me first (and that means telling me and knowing I heard!)

[HuwEdwards]

Got that?

[Doodledootoo]

Message withdrawn

[AbbyMumsnet]

HuwE - pardon?

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[pigleto]

Turn your hot water thermostat down so that the water coming out of the tap is only hand hot.

Make sure that your electical wiring has modern RCD breakers fitted.

Make sure your smoke detectors have batteries in them.

Write your mobile number on your childs arm in magic marker if you are going somewhere busy.

Fasten bookcases to the wall.

[mistypeaks]

Me and dh have a system when we go out. Unless both are in double buggy. DH always has responsibility for dd1 and me dd2. That way as well should something unforseen and major happen (as well as the more usual supervisory role) such as car accident whatever. Instinctively we will grab relevant child and things should be smoother and less ambiguous.

[BrownSuga]

Educate them on safe internet use. Keep the computer in an open area where you can easily monitor it's use.

No one should ask your child to keep a secret from you. Tell them if anyone asks them to keep a secret, no matter what they are told (threats etc...) they should ALWAYS let you know, and they would never be in trouble for telling you.

[irises]

Send them to self defence classes.

[mummymagic]

Echo the communicating and teaching them to be responsible for keeping themselves safe.

Let them play with and see dangerous things like scissors to allow for natural curiosity but safely and reiterate it is Mummy's and Daddy's and they can't have it on their own.

Let babies feel what 'hot' means (safely of course) and to blow on their own food if it feels hot. Also find solutions for problems - bump down the stairs if you have too many things in your hands, or walk carefully/around it if the floor is wet.

[prufrock]

Ooh I've just remebered something i've recently had done - often burgular alarms have an option where the alarm can beep once every time the circuit is broken - ie, when the door is opened. It means that if my dd (bless her heart) ignores all my warnings and still opens the front door (regardless of the childproof lock) when I'm upstairs, I can hear that she has done so and rush down and yell make sure she's OK

[haggisaggis]

If they will wear it, put a brightly coloured swimming cap on them in a busy pool. Makes them a lot easier to spot!

[DANCESwithALitFireworkArrrrrgh]

Always run cold water first or both taps together when filling up the bath NEVER hot first in case dc get in when your back is turned.

[DANCESwithALitFireworkArrrrrgh]

Teach them your address and phone number as early as possible.

[bosch]

(After 'playing' tug of war in middle of busy road with ds1 and dh!) - when crossing road with ds1 and dh, only one parent should take charge and hold ds hand - even if it means that you and your partner cross separately.

Fire Service tip - discuss with your older children what you'd all do if there was a fire in the house (how would you get out if upstairs, how would you get to mummy and daddy etc)

[furcoatandnoknickers]

With small children, put your name address and mobile number NOT THEIR NAME on a piece of paper (or if sad like me - laminated) safety-pinned in their pocket, so that if they get lost, they have to ask a mummy WITH CHILDREN to call the number - (like she hasn't enough to do!) -mine think that all women are mummys.