Outdoor winter safety for baby & toddler
The British winter is just around the corner, the clocks will soon go back an hour and both Halloween and bonfire night are nearly upon us. This all means that parents are likely to be outdoors with their children in the dark and therefore it is essential that you are all safe and visible to other people and traffic.
Nighttime visibility for children
At the end of October we roll the clocks back by one hour which will mean by mid-afternoon daylight is fading and by late-afternoon it is completely dark. Making sure that you and your baby or toddler are visible is vitally important for safety at this time of year.
Try to dress yourself and your child in bright reflective colours to give the maximum chance of being spotted in poor light. Avoid roads or pathways where there is no street lighting and wherever possible always walk on a pavement and use designated pedestrian crossings.
There are a number of products that can alert passers-by, cyclists and motorists to the fact that you have a child with you. For many parents, the buggy, pram or stroller is necessary for transporting their infant but these products are not easily identifiable in the dark. Make everyone aware that you are there by placing reflectors on the buggy. If your toddler is walking alongside you, place a reflector on their clothing and yours.
Clippasafe High Visibility Reflectors
A similar product is a stroll light. This works in much the same way as strobe lights used by cyclists. This super-bright product has three flashing modes that will alert motorists and pedestrians of your presence. Attach one to yourself and your child so you’re both easily identified in the dark.
For parents who carry their children in a backpack or back carrier, make sure the one you buy has a reflective trim.
At some point you’ll need to transport your baby by car during the night or in low-light conditions. Baby on board signs are great for alerting other motorists that you have a child with you but these signs are not always obvious in the dark. This sign displays three different coloured lights through the wording of the sign and provides better visibility at night and 100% visibility in low light conditions such as fog, snow or heavy rain.
Halloween and bonfire night safety
Parents with toddlers or slightly older children may want to take their infants trick-or-treating on Halloween and to a fireworks display on bonfire night. These occasions can be great fun for kids but there are some potential dangers to be aware of.
First of all, remember that your child may become frightened by the loud noises of fireworks or the scary sights and sounds of Halloween. You should gauge how ready your child is to experience these occasions and if in doubt hold your own party at home until they are old enough to be out in a public event.
If you do go out trick-or-treating, limit your journey to your own street or only go to the homes of friends or family. Be aware that some sweets are not suitable for toddlers so before your let your child eat any treats check they’re okay.
Never accept fresh fruit or homemade food from people you do not know and always check the packaging of any sweets to see if they’ve been opened. If they have, discard them.
When visiting a large fireworks display you should always keep your child close to you and visible (see reflectors and strobe light products above). It’s easy to be distracted while looking up into the sky at the fireworks but your toddler could easily wander off. Fit a proximity alarm to your toddler or child so if they do happen to stray you’ll be alerted.
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Tags: baby safety, fireworks, halloween, Outdoors, toddler safety
