Tips to Keep Kids Safe Over the Holidays

One of the best parts of the holidays is enjoying your favorite festive foods, from stuffing and gingerbread houses to latkes and lasagna. A case of food poisoning would definitely put a damper on the celebrations.

Abeer Bader, MSC, RD, LDN, a Mass General Brigham dietitian, shares tips on holiday food safety. Keep the following in mind as you plan the menus for your holiday gatherings and cook or bake with your children:

• Clean your surfaces and hands before prepping food. Wipe down and sanitize all surfaces and cooking tools. Make sure everyone washes their hands before and after handling raw food.

• Thaw meat safely. Once meat gets above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria can multiply. Thaw meat either on the lowest shelf of your refrigerator, in cold water, or using the defrost setting on your microwave.

• Avoid food contamination and cross-contamination. Wash your hands and use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables. Use serving utensils so people can avoid touching food directly.

• Cook foods thoroughly before eating or serving. “Use a thermometer to ensure holiday cooking safety. That way, you can make sure your meats and other foods have been cooked to the appropriate minimum internal temperature,” says Bader. Don’t eat any raw baked goods—cookie dough may be tempting for children, but anything with raw eggs can contain Salmonella bacteria.

• Store foods promptly and properly. Any meat and dairy (think: charcuterie platters) should be refrigerated after 2 hours. Leftovers should only be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

“Small toys that can poke the eye cause most of the problems. If you’re looking for eye-safe toys, go for larger and softer rather than smaller and harder,” says Nimesh A. Patel, MD, a Mass General Brigham ophthalmologist.

To prevent child eye injuries, avoid toys with projectiles (like darts and toy guns) and toys with lots of sharp parts or pieces that stick out. Because even “safer” toys can cause injury, always watch any young children when they’re playing and teach them to never aim at the face or head of another person or pet.

Electric scooters, electric bicycles, and helmet safety

“Electric scooters and electric bicycles are dangerous,” says Michael Flaherty, DO, director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids at Mass General for Children. “While there are many e-bike and e-scooters for sale in person or online that state that they are OK for children younger than 16, it’s illegal in many cities and states for children to ride on these products.”

For children riding non-motorized bicycles and scooters, parents should closely supervise small children and make sure they always wear a helmet that fits.

Choking prevention

Parents know all too well that babies and toddlers love putting random objects in their mouths. When buying toys, follow age recommendations on the packaging. Avoid toys with small parts that may pose choking risks. Dr. Flaherty and Melisa W. Lai-Becker, MD, a Mass General Brigham emergency medicine doctor, share ways to help reduce the risk of choking while playing or eating over the holidays.

Follow these simple steps:

• Keep small objects, high-risk foods, and other choking hazards out of children’s reach. For example, if a child swallows a button battery or lithium coin battery, they may experience a life-threatening injury. These batteries can be found in thermometers, remote controls, calculators, games and toys, watches, flameless candles, and other items. Be sure to close battery compartments and put devices out of sight and out of reach of small children.

• Watch your child while they eat and supervise playing. It is always safer for children to sit while eating and avoid running around while snacking.

• Cut your child’s food into small pieces. Beware of foods like nuts, grapes, hot dogs, and hard candies that are easy to choke on.

Whether you’re lighting candles or snuggling in front of a fire on a winter’s night, it’s important to be safe around any open flames and other heat sources, like space heaters.

“It’s absolutely essential that people have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes,” says John Schulz, MD, PhD, a Mass General Brigham surgeon and medical director of the Burn Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. Make sure there’s at least one in every floor of our home (one in every bedroom), and that the batteries are tested and replaced regularly.

Dr. Schulz shares other fire safety tips, including:

• Develop a fire escape plan and review it with your family.

• Maintain a 3-foot perimeter around fireplaces (indoor and outdoor) and space heaters.

• Use caution in the kitchen, especially when young children are present.

• Operate heat-generating appliances carefully and according to instructions.

• Be careful with candles, matches, and lighters.

• Keep a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible spot.

Go over these safety measures regularly with the entire family, including youngsters. In all the holiday hubbub, they might need extra reminders. “If you reinforce the message over time, that can help,” says Dr. Schulz.