A paediatrician who has seen countless ‘horror’ accidents at work has revealed the best tips for keeping children safe at home. Nika, who goes by Dr Niky online, 35, lives with her husband, Pete, and their three children aged two, four and six. Nika said:“I’ve seen so many preventable accidents – burns from hot coffee spills, choking on foods that could have been prevented, furniture tip overs – that I’ve changed the way I set up my own home.
“Now I keep pots and pan handles turned away when cooking, store hot drinks and soups far back on the counter and cut food into safe shapes and sizes for young kids, among many other things. It’s about making small, practical changes that make a huge difference in preventing injuries.”
Nika added: “Honestly, I can’t not see safety risks anymore.Once you’ve worked in paediatrics, you walk into your home and start spotting potential dangers like a detective.After witnessing all that I have since becoming a paediatrician, I am even more aware of all the risks around our kids.”
For Nika, checking smoke alarms, closing doors and having fire blankets nearby are a must. She said: “Every home should have smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
“Test them once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. Closing doors before sleeping is also a major safety tip that many people don’t realise.A closed bedroom door can slow the spread of fire and toxic smoke, giving kids more time to escape or be rescued.
“Also, a given, but keep fire hazards away from kids by storing matches, lighters and candles out of both the reach and sight of children.”
Nika is also is super mindful with heaters.
She said: “Keep any heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, like curtains, bedding and furniture. Turn them off before leaving the room or going to bed.Also have a fire blanket and extinguisher in the kitchen.A fire blanket can help smother small cooking fires.
“And a fire extinguisher should be within easy reach – everyone in the home should know how to use it.”
Most parents will agree that the kitchen is the number one place where accidents are most likely to happen. Nika said: “Never leave cooking unattended, keep kids at least three feet away from the stove and turn pot handles inward to prevent burns and spills or use back burners whenever possible.
“Also in the kitchen – choking hazards in food. So many parents don’t realise that certain foods – grapes, hot dogs, popcorn, whole nuts, raw carrots – are major choking risks for toddlers and young kids.Cutting food into safe shapes and sizes is one of the easiest ways to prevent a scary, life-threatening emergency.”
And Nika has even taught her kids some tricks. She said: “Because I have been teaching them from such a young age, they’ve also learned to be aware of risks on their own.My six year old knows exactly how to manipulate food so that it is a safe option for my two year old.
“Even my two year old – if I hand him a blueberry, he knows automatically to squish it down into a flatter piece before putting it in his mouth. It’s rewarding to see these things become second nature to them because it means they’re internalising it.
“It’s not enough to just make it a safe environment for them in the home without talking about it frequently because they will not be in your home at all times and you will not always be there to protect them.”
But Nika she wants to make it clear that you don’t have to bubble wrap your child or live in constant fear. It is all about a few thoughtful adjustments.
She said: “How you set up your kitchen, serve food and secure furniture can prevent so many accidents. Parenting is overwhelming as it is, so my goal is always to share tips that are practical and worth it in terms of keeping kids safe.”