A new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics gives us some bad news on home safety; especially if you are a parent of a wiggly, curious, sneaky, fast toddler.
After an extensive study of emergency room visits by children with illnesses and injuries due to household cleaning products from 1990 until 2006, some scary statistics were published. In spite of major childproofing advances, toddlers are still winding up in the hospital due to ingesting these necessary evils in our kitchen cabinets. In fact, 72 percent of injuries and illnesses due to ingesting household cleaners happens to toddlers aged 1 to 3.
Even as numbers decline in general, due to awareness and childproof packaging, one product has seen a dramatic increase in injuries.
The spray bottle was the most common container in cleaning-product injuries, increasing 30 to 40 percent from 1990 to 2006.
"The problem with a spray bottle is that the child can spray it in the face or they can also unscrew the cap and drink out of it," said Heath Jolliff, associate medical director for the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
The accessible, colorful packaging is also a culprit in luring the littlest ones to the toxic products. I know my son always wants to grab my spray bottle that has flowers on it when I'm cleaning up after dinner. Additionally, some people store their cleaning products in sports drink bottles or other bottles that look like beverages.
You should always keep the cleaning product in its original packaging and always dispose of leftovers.
Additionally, bleach wipes and sponges that contain toilet bowl cleaner are often seen as not as threatening, and parents store them within reach of the child. I know I have some toilet bowl cleaning sponges on the floor in my bathroom right now. Which is the problem.
The study found most parents do not follow the guidelines for household cleaning storage. If you're going to have cleaners under the kitchen or bathroom sink, you'd better have a lock on those cabinets at all times.
Do you do any of these things on the "no" list?
Image via S0MEBODY 3LSE/Flickr
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Comments 10
It has been so long since I have had to worry about these types of things, but I can honestly say when my son was little he never did get hold of anything dangerous because I am very diligent. However, having a house full of friends with their little ones over the weekend was a reminder of just how curious little ones can be! I did my best to child proof my house but missed a LOT of stuff!
I know this is asking a lot, but perhaps when babies become curious toddlers, it's a good time to consider natural cleaning alternatives.
Vinegar does wonders!
Of course, natural or synthetic, proper supervision and precaution should always be a priority.
We have some Chlorox Greenworks cleaners in spray bottles, but they are all the way in the back since they aren't used very often. I mostly clean with vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Maddox has gotten a hold of that before when I've been cleaning. Luckily it's not toxic or dangerous at all. (Which, of course, is why we use it.)
Ours are locked up and I maily use vinegar so at least it's safer then bleach.
No, our 'cupboard of death' as I have dubbed it is in one of the top cabinets that DS cannot reach- even with a chair. We do not leave things out where he can get them and the only thing he MIGHT come into contact with is the 'yucky bug spray' (bug killer) that is Non-Toxic. We also routinely discuss (like when I am readying bleach for the white cycle) that while some things LOOK like water- they might not be and that they can be very very bad and make us sick. So unless it is in a cup that Mommy or Daddy gave you to drink- you need to come ask first.
Of course, I would never put any chemical in a different container, like a glass, that someone could confuse as 'oh this is just water', but you never know what or where children will encounter things.
Thanks for the tips
Thank God I keep all my cleaning products on high shelves or behind child proofed doors!
That said, in one of my parenting groups, there are some mothers who seem to think that they shouldn't have to child proof because their children should know better. I mean, really??? They are kids who have never quite experienced the world as we have, shouldn't it be expected that they are going to explore it?
also.. keep marsh mellows out of reach of little ones they are a major chokinghazard and so many people dont think anything of leaving them within reach on a pantry shelf
They are locked up.