The holidays can be one of the most exciting times of the year. This is especially true for families with young children. There is nothing better than seeing your child’s face light up during your family’s traditions and festivities. However, many parents fail to realize that the holiday season can also have a lot of dangers for young children, and that many children are injured during the holidays every year.

So, how can you keep your children safe this holiday season, so you can watch them enjoy the festivities without worry? Here are a few precautions you can take to make things a little safer this year.

A Few Holiday Safety Tips for Parents with Young Children

Keep any poisonous plants out of reach.

Many popular decorative holiday plants are actually very poisonous if consumed. Many parents are unaware of this and leave these plants within easy reach of children. Common offenders include mistletoe and holly. If you plan on leaving out decorative plants this year, make sure they are not poisonous, and place the harmful ones far out of the reach of little hands.

Keep children out of the kitchen during holiday cooking.

Far too many children suffer injuries in the kitchen during the holiday season. If you’re dealing with things like boiling liquids, it is best to keep the little ones out of the kitchen until you’re done. All it takes is one moment when you’re not looking for your child to be badly hurt. Since it is hard to concentrate on cooking a holiday feast while also keeping an eye on wandering little ones, it is best to keep them out of the kitchen during holiday meal preparation.

Make sure your Christmas tree isn’t a fire hazard.

Christmas trees may be beautiful, but they can also easily become a fire hazard. Many home fires each year are actually caused by Christmas trees that have dried out and been placed near a fire hazard, such as a candle or space heater. To prevent this, make sure you keep your tree watered and far away from any fire hazards. Make sure that none of your lights are fraying as well.

Drive with extra caution.

Driving with caution is something that you should always be doing, but it can be especially important during the holiday season. This is because more drivers tend to engage in risky behaviors such as driving under the influence and driving while distracted during the holiday season. Make sure you’re avoiding any unsafe driving behaviors and make sure you’re prepared to respond quickly if you encounter someone else who is driving unsafely.

Make sure your child has the proper car seat.

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death for children under 14 in the United States. Over one-third of these fatalities are associated with improper car seat use. Make sure that your child has the proper seat for his or her age, weight and height. Additionally, make sure that your child is properly secured in the seat before heading out on that holiday road trip. Make sure the straps of the seat are fitted snugly across your child’s body. Never strap your child into the seat while they are wearing a fluffy coat, as this can loosen the straps, increasing the risk of injuries and fatalities.

These are just a few tips to keep your children safer this holiday season. These may be simple things to do, but they can help prevent serious injuries, leaving you and your family free to enjoy your holiday festivities without worry.