7 Household Dangers to Keep Little Kids Away from ...

Detergent pods are all over store shelves and are a super convenient way to get your clothes clean. However, they look like candy to lots of kids. After all, they are brightly colored pods that look perfect for licking or chewing on. The truth is that they can kill little kids if they are eaten so make sure they are stored completely out of reach.

I love my immersion blender! It’s perfect for making creamy soups, whipping mashed potatoes and making homemade refried beans. As great at is, it also poses an injury risk to my children. The blades on the blender are very sharp and can cause devastating cuts and lacerations so make sure you tell your kids that it’s not a toy and then store it where your little ones can’t reach it.

I’m not talking about too much screen time here, though that’s something you need to consider for other reasons. According to the experts at Parents magazine, a child is injured by a television every 30 minutes. That’s usually because the TV tips over and falls on the child. Use furniture anchors to keep yours stable – even if junior decides to climb the entertainment center.

One of the only times I’ve ever had to call Poison Control was when I was spot cleaning the carpet and my son grabbed the Resolve, stuck it in his mouth and sprayed. Why wouldn’t he when he had toy spray bottles in the tub and pool? Kids don’t know the difference between the bottles that contain chemicals and the ones that are toys, so be sure you keep the dangerous ones on a high shelf where they can’t be reached. And make sure they are always in the “off” position when not in use. Luckily, after a glass of apple juice, my son was just fine.

Those handy collapsible hampers are perfect for schlepping your tons and tons of laundry to the washing machine and back, but they can be dangerous too. Kids like to play in them when they’re empty because they provide the perfect hiding place or impromptu fort. However, the wires have been known to cause eye injuries so check yours to be sure the wires are completely enclosed in fabric and try to keep your kids from playing with the hamper. A cardboard box is always an enticing alternative!

So many pills, tablets and caplets are candy colors and make kids want to eat them. For that reason, you must be absolutely sure that you keep all medications out of the hands of kids. The ideal situation is to keep them locked up, but you must also be careful about the ones you carry in your purse. Make sure Grandma and Grandpa keep theirs out of reach too when they visit.

It’s important to keep on top of recalls when it comes to your child’s toys, clothing and furniture. For example, the drop side cribs my kids slept in are no longer considered safe because they can cause injuries or suffocation. Make sure you are on recall lists so you can get alerts when something is recalled. If it’s something your child owns, remove it from his bedroom or playroom immediately.

What other things do you keep out of the reach of your children? Do any of these items surprise you?