Child Health and Development – Having Safe and Healthy Holidays

Posted on 11.27.2007

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

The holidays can be a magical time for you and your family. Parties, gifts, and food can be fun, but they can also create a great deal of stress. Keeping your kids safe and healthy will allow you to focus on the joy and wonder the holiday season has to offer.

Food Allergies
Keeping your child’s diet free from allergens can be challenging, but navigating your way through holiday treats and dinner parties may be downright stressful. It is not worth ruining the holiday for your child by giving them a treat that can potentially make them feel sick. A few tips for surviving holiday parties with food allergies:

Phone ahead: Call your host or hostess ahead of time to find out what is on the menu and to let them know of any dietary restrictions
Bring a dish: Offer to bring a hearty side dish to the party. This way, if no other allergen free foods are available you will have enough to eat
Keep snacks handy: Always bring a few allergy friendly snacks with you just in case

Childproofing
The holidays bring a whole new realm of potential hazards. While your own home may be adequately childproofed, the homes of friends and relatives may not be. If you have an infant or toddler, you may need to bring your own playpen or safety gates. The most important way to keep your child safe when at someone else’s home is to keep a close eye on your child at all times. For your own home, here are a few safety tips for your holiday decorations:

If you are putting up a tree, keep decorations high enough on the tree to be out of reach to infants and toddlers. You can also put a child gate up around the tree or even set up the tree in a playpen to avoid any risk
Keep holiday decorations out of reach to ensure your child cannot pull a decoration down from a high surface and onto themselves
If you have an infant or toddler, you may want to scale back on your decorating to keep it simple. You can always save the elaborate decor for next year
Make sure decorations are flame resistant and never leave candles unattended

Choosing Toys
The best part of the holidays for kids is undoubtedly the toys. But after the recent toy recalls, parents are more than ever searching for toys that are both fun and safe. In addition, many educational toys on the market promise to provide entertainment while boosting your child’s cognitive development. Several safe toy shopping guides recommend buying toys made in the US to ensure the toy has undergone proper safety checks and do not contain harmful chemicals. Selecting toys that are appropriate for your infant or child’s age will also ensure safety:

Read labels: use age recommendations for toys as a guide
Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child
For infants, toddlers, and all children who still try to put things in their mouths, avoid toys with small parts or sharp edges
Keep your eye out for sturdy construction, such as secured noses, eyes, accessories, and other small parts
For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points or heating elements
Discard plastic wrappings on toys immediately after opening to avoid suffocation
If your child is getting a toy he can ride such as a bike, scooter, or, skateboard; don’t forget the helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads

Following a few simple tips can ensure your family will have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!