\"12 Essential Child Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know\"
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As a solo Mum to one or single parent, the importance of my child's safety is paramount.
Without regular backup, I've learned as much as I could about child safety to keep my son and myself safe. Here are 12 essential tips that I've gathered along my journey. For more detailed advice, watch my video on YouTube here.
If you would rather read these 12 safety tips keep on reading.
Water safety
Ever since my son was small, I've always worried about him swimming in a pool or the sea, as things can change quickly. Therefore, pool safety was my first focus.
Tip Number One - Swimming Lessons for Child Water Safety
Teach or find lessons for your child to learn to swim. Swimming lessons not only teach children how to swim but also cover water safety, floating to the nearest land, and more. If you can't afford lessons, learn the skills on YouTube and teach your child yourself.
In my experience swimming lessons also teach children about water safety, how to float to the nearest land and so much more. My son has been taking swimming lessons for a while now and it has really helped not only him but also my anxiety knowing his capability.
If you cannot afford lessons, another option is to learn the skills on YouTube then take your child swimming yourself to teach them in water. This will be a little more work however it will also be a lot cheaper for you.
Tip Number Two - Bright Colored Swimwear for Enhanced Visibility
Dress your child in bright-coloured swimwear such as green, orange, yellow, or pink to make them easier to spot underwater.
What we put our children in when they go swimming can help save a life, if we put our children in blue swimwear and they are struggling under water it will be harder for us to spot them.
However if we put them in very bright colours such as green, orange, yellows or pink they will be a lot easier to spot under water and if they are in any sort of trouble it will take valuable seconds off finding them.
Tip Number Three - Wrap Them Up Correctly After Swimming
Wrap the towel under their arms and around their body. This way, if they fall back into the pool, they have their arms free to help themselves.
Wrapping our child in a towel once they leave the pool is something we do to get them dry and to keep them warm however all these years I have been doing it all wrong.
When my son leaves the pool I have always put the towel around his shoulders, however if your child then goes back towards the pool and falls the towel can become wet and heavy very quickly which will make it harder for them to use their arms to get free.
The correct way is to ask your child to lift their arms up, place the towel under their arms and around their body like you would if you were stepping out of a shower. This way if your child was to fall into a pool they have their arms free to help them get back to safety.
Tip Number Four - Watch out for crowded pools
In busy pools or water parks, designate a meeting place if separated, ensure your child knows to approach a lifeguard, and set boundaries on where they can go.
In the summer months pools and water parks can become very busy and it can be very easy to become separated in a crowded pool. If you are not swimming with your child it can also be hard to keep them in your eyeline at all times too.
Therefore, it is important to have a designated place to meet, for your child to know to go to a safe person such as a lifeguard and if you are not swimming with your child set boundaries of where they can and cannot go for you to be able to always see where they are.
Tip Number Five - Always pay attention
Put your phone away and watch your child at all times. It only takes a split second for something to happen.
My final pool safety tip which also leads into other areas, not just pool safety. Is to always pay attention to your child. I often see parents or guardians sitting at the poolside or in the park on their phones whilst their child burns off some energy having fun.
It is easy to pull your phone out to check emails or get caught down a rabbit hole of social media and before you know it you have lost yourself and have not been paying attention to your child and their surroundings.
It only takes a split second for something to happen, therefore it is important to make a more conscious effort to put the phone away and keep it away and pay attention to where your child is at all times.
Tip Number Six - Make lots of noise
Teach your child to make noise if they are lost or in danger. Shouting phrases like “I am lost” or “This isn’t my Mummy/Daddy” can help draw attention quickly. It is important to talk to our children about making noise. I know children can definitely make noise. It is important for us as parents to explain that if they are lost or in danger, making as much noise as possible is going to help them.
This will draw attention to themselves and can save them from a difficult and scary situation. It is also important for your child to shout what is wrong for example - “I am lost” “I can’t find my Mummy/daddy” or god forbid “This isn’t my Mummy/Daddy”
The more attention your child can draw to themselves the quicker they can get help in whatever situation they may find themselves in.
Tip Number Seven - Take a photo of your child
Take a photo of your child before you go out. If separated, you have an up-to-date photo of what they are wearing. Taking a photo of your child before you go out on a day trip anywhere, I usually take a photo of my son outside the place we are visiting for the day. If we are on holiday I take a photo of him before we leave the room.
The reason I do this is if for any reason I get separated from my son I have a very up to date photo of him if I ever need it. I know what he was wearing and what he looks like today to be able to find him and for other people to help me find him also.
Tip Number Eight - Shout what they are wearing
If separated, shout out their clothes and name to help others know who to look for. If you are separated from your child the first thing we do is to call out their name, However there could be many people with the same name as your child which will make it harder to find them.
Therefore start shouting out the clothes your child was wearing along with their name, this will help more people know who they are looking for.
When we are separated from our child for any reason we can panic and not remember what they are wearing, by taking the photo at the start of the day can help you remember.
Tip Number Nine - Never let your child be the last to leave a vehicle
Always make sure your child exits the vehicle before you, or both get out at the same time. I have been doing this for a while and this is to never let your child be the last out of a vehicle.
If you get taxis or ubers with your children, always make sure that they go out before you and stand by the door whilst you follow them out or both get out of the car at exactly the same time.
If your child is last to leave a vehicle it can be easy for someone to drive off with your child still in the car. It is also important to not leave your child in your own car on their own as it can be very easy for someone to break into your car whilst you are in the shop or even just putting groceries in your car.
If putting groceries in your car, ensure your child is next to you or you are putting your groceries in the back seat where your child is to not leave them alone for their safety.
Tip Number Ten - Teach your child to lie for safety
If home alone, teach your child to say you're busy or on a call if someone asks if you're home. I know we are always telling our children to always tell the truth, I know I tell my child all the time to tell the truth. However I have been teaching him to lie if they are ever in an unsafe situation.
For example, if your child is old enough to be left alone in the house and somebody knocks on the door first of all they are told not to answer it but if for some reason they do and somebody asks if your parents are home (but you’re not) your child can say yes they are on a zoom call can I take a message.
If this person wants to see the parents they will leave a message or come back at a different time, if this person has a different agenda they will make an excuse and leave. This is an example of lying for their own safety.
It is also a good idea to get a camera installed which is connected to your phone to see who is at your door if your child is home alone. This allows you time to call your child and tell them to not answer the door. You can pick up a camera for your door from amazon here is thedoor camera I use
Tip Eleven - Have a family code word
A family code word can be used if your child feels unsafe or needs to leave a situation. I do this with my son. A family code word is a word that just your immediate family know it can be anything that can be used in a sentence.
This word can be used at anytime with your children if your child feels unsafe or does not want to do something they can ask you a question in front of others, text you or call you mention the code word and you will know that is a code word for you to play bad cop and say no or to make an excuse and leave the situation.
For example if your child is out with friends and their friends want to do something which your child doesn’t want to do they can text you the code word which will be your cue to call them and tell them to get home. That way they don’t have to say no to their friends as you “made” them come home.
Another example is you are on a playdate or a friend ask your child to go on a playdate which they do not want to go on or maybe they want to go home early they can mention the code word to you and you can take over by making an excuse to leave or saying no you already have plans.
The final example and most important reason for a code word is when your child needs to be collected from somewhere and you are unable to collect them yourself, you can give this person the code word which they need to tell your child for them to know it is safe for them to leave, if the code word is not mentioned they will know this person is not safe to leave with.
The code word can then be changed and you can also change the code word as many times as you feel necessary.
Tip Number Twelve - Have a good line of communication with your child
The final tip is to Ensure your child feels safe to come to you with any problems for help, advice, and guidance. It is important for your child to know that if there was ever a problem they feel safe to come to you.
I know I want my son to come to me if there was ever a problem with themselves or with a friend as they know as parents we are only there to help them. The last thing I would want is my son to be too scared to come to me out of fear of being shouted at and instead make a bad decision that could be fatal.
As a single Mum, ensuring the safety of my son is crucial, and I believe this goes for all parents.
I hope these tips help you keep your child safe.
Found these tips useful? Let me know and share this post!
Until next time
Rachel
Written by: Rachel Cole