Kitchen Safety: General

. Wipe up food or liquids that might cause falls.
. Store dangerous items, such as plastic bags and cleaning products, in out-of-reach cabinets. Store safe items in lower cabinets or drawers.
. Store garbage in a latched cabinet.
. Do not use refrigerator magnets that are small enough to be choking hazards.
. Do not place infants on kitchen counters.
. Use an appliance latch on the refrigerator door.
. Store safe items for your child's play, such as pots and pans and wooden spoons, in one cabinet.
. Children under 4 should not be in the kitchen when meals are being prepared unless one person is available to watch the child.
. Use a playpen as a safe zone for a young child if the child must be in the kitchen with you.
. Make sure your child's high chair has a wide base to prevent tip overs.
. Always use the safety strap when your child is in the high chair.
. Never leave a child alone while in a high chair.

Kitchen Safety: Scalds and Burns

. Do not hold a child while you are carrying hot liquids.
. Keep playpens away form the stove.
. Use back burners of the stove first and front burners last.
. Keep hot items away from the edge of the counter or table.
. Turn pot handles inward on the stove.
. Protect burner control knobs with knob covers.
. Keep children away from the oven and hot appliances.
. Keep electrical appliances and electrical cords well away from the edge of the counter.
. Never leave a detachable appliance cord plugged into the outlet when it has been disconnected from the appliance.
. Use low microwave settings and mix all food thoroughly after heating. Be sure to test food temperature before feeding.
. Never warm your baby's bottle in the microwave.
. Avoid scald burns by keeping children away from the hot water tap on a drinking water dispenser.

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Information about Kitchen Safety was graciously shared by Dr. Patricia Keener, author of Caring for Kids: Useful Information & Hard-to-find Facts About Child Health and Development , and Riley Hospital for Children.