Although Thanksgiving this year will be celebrated in smaller groups, chances are that many people are still planning a big meal. This means that a lot of time will be spent in the kitchen as your meal is being prepared. To that point, now seems like a good time to discuss kitchen safety tips for kids! 

Kitchen Safety Tips for Kids

These tips are particularly important if your child has access to the kitchen or if your safety gates are not always up. However, even if your kitchen is a no-go zone, these precautions should still be taken. After all, kids can be adventurous and clever, so they may find their way into the kitchen anyway.

Kids Not Allowed

Let’s face it: your little ones want to be where the action is. So when they see adults moving around the kitchen, they’ll want to find their way into the kitchen, too. If you have very small-but-mobile kids, you may want to simply make the room off-limits. Guard the doorway to the room with baby-proofing gates and make it a restricted area.

Keep Cabinets Closed

When it comes to cabinets, the biggest kitchen safety tips for kids are simple. First, keep them closed. Next, keep them locked with a childproofing lock. These steps can prevent everything from pinched fingers to much more serious problems like the ingestion of chemicals. If possible, keep all soaps, detergents and cleaners in a high cabinet and out of reach of children rather than under the sink.  To learn about various types of safety devices to consider, read our previous blog post about cabinet locks.

Hot Spot: the Stove and Oven

The stove and oven appliance is the most obvious danger in the kitchen. To avoid a disaster, keep pot handles turned inward so a child can’t pull a pot down on them. Always be sure you fully turn its knobs to the “off” position, especially if you use a gas stove. Additionally, the oven can heat up to extreme temperatures, which can easily burn a child (or adult!). In fact, it’s best to never leave the oven door ajar.

Above all, you’ll definitely want to child-proof this appliance. First, invest in safety knob covers. Next, make sure your oven door has a locking feature, or buy an appliance lock to keep the door closed, especially when the oven is in use.  To learn more about the best locks for your oven, read this blog post.

In case of emergencies, it’s also good to know how to treat a burn, and you should always have a fire extinguisher nearby.

Don’t Ignore the Dishwasher

The dishwasher may not seem like as much of a danger as the stove, but it can cause its fair share of injuries. You see, this appliance is eye-level for your kids. Pulling the door down can bonk your little one on the head. Worse yet, if they manage to avoid that hazard, there are plenty of others inside of the machine. When you think about it, dishwashers are often filled with breakable plates, glasses and sharp utensils.  And, if the washer hasn’t been turned on yet, there can be unsanitary items inside, like contaminated cutting boards. Keep an appliance lock on the door to make sure it stays put. 

Keep Knives Out of Reach

When it comes to utensils, keep them out of reach. This means keeping the drawer shut with a safety latch. These handy and affordable devices automatically lock the drawer when you close it. Luckily, it’s easy for you to reopen, but will be more of a struggle for a child. You should also be mindful of utensils, especially knives, that may be in the dishwasher, in the sink, and on the counter.

Mind Your Cooking Appliance Cords

Smaller appliances, like the blender, coffeemaker or hand-mixer should be put away or unplugged when they are not in use. This way, an adventurous child can’t accidentally turn them on. Also, make sure the cord isn’t hanging down. In this case, the object could be pulled off of the counter or table and onto the child’s head. In just a few seconds, you can have an injured child and ruined dinner.