While raising children can be one of the most joyous times in our lives, we have a primal urge to keep them safe and happy. However, there are a number of products that have been proven to increase the incidence of childhood injuries, and in some more dangerous cases, fatalities. So, in order to help raise awareness and keep our children safe, here’s a list of products that require an increased level of caution.

1. Laundry detergent pods

If swallowed, laundry pods can cause poisoning and burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach. Other than ingestion, if the liquid leaks or is squeezed from the pod, it can cause severe skin and eye irritation and burns. It can also damage the lungs if your child breathes it in. If you suspect that your child has ingested or had some form of contact with an open detergent pod, call a doctor immediately.

2. Balloons and other small objects

Balloons are a great way to brighten up a party. But, they cause more childhood deaths than any other toy. Balloons, especially those made of latex, conform to the shape of the narrow windpipe in children. This leads to choking. Other small objects like batteries, magnets, marbles and bottle caps can also lead to occlusions of the windpipe. If you notice your child choking, give them several firm blows to the upper back while they are in a forward position. Be sure to call an ambulance.

3. Pet food

Pet food, though not poisonous to humans can cause children to become sick after ingesting dry cat or dog food. The most dangerous is dry food pellets, usually given to large dogs. This can result in a choking hazard for kids.

4. Toys with propellers

Small, hand-operated drones cause an increased risk of injury. In one situation, a child had his eye cut out by a drone propellor. While they can indeed be fun toys to play with, do follow the safety precautions.

5. Trampolines

While trampolines can be a fun addition to the backyard, they do come with a number of risks. According to the EU Injury Database, approximately 51,000 children aged 0-14 require an emergency department visit every year due to injuries sustained from using a trampoline. In the United States, that number is closer to 250,000

6. Toy Chests

If you keep your child’s toys in a chest with a heavy lid, it’s probably best to remove the lid or to use open storage boxes. Heavy lids pose an injury risk if the toddler were to have a body part reaching into the open lid and it wasn’t secured. Reported incidents have also noted cases of suffocation when a child has become trapped within the box. Most modern toy chests have added safety elements to help prevent injury. Alternatively, open boxes and play areas can be a safer alternative.

7. Certain houseplants

While houseplants can be aesthetically pleasing for your home and garden, some can be quite toxic and lethal if eaten. Philodendron, oleander, and peace lilies are three common examples. Should an incident occur, call an ambulance.

8. Candy

Candy can be a real choking hazard, depending on the age of the child. Be especially aware of sour hard candies, like Warheads, which have been reported to have caused burns and erosion to children’s mouths. So either proceed with caution or avoid them altogether.

9. Carpets and Rugs

Carpets or rugs may make a room look wonderful, prevent kids from slipping, and reduce noise. But research on the toxins in carpets has shown that carpet materials can be hazardous to our health. In fact, carpets impair the indoor air quality, according to a National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) study. It is also particularly harmful to kids, especially toddlers, who might find and swallow small items that are overlooked in carpets.

10. Open Handbag

A bag is an essential, especially for mothers of small kids who need bigger bags to carry around their children’s needs. However, if let unzipped, these bags can be dangerous for kids who might want to reach for something inside the bag and the contents of the bag, like medication, perfume, or makeup can still be dangerous for kids.

11. Paint chips

Care should also be taken to ensure that the paint on the walls and doors in your home is not worn and chipped since children might swallow old paint chips, causing lead poisoning. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, lead poisoning in children may damage their brain, slow their development, and cause hearing and speech problems.

12. keys, coins, kitchen magnets and

They’re shiny and able to make a great jingling sound. Kids are easily attracted to playing with keys. But metal may be hazardous when swallowed and on top of that, dust and grease could be stuck on the keys and their sharp edges are dangerous around kids’ eyes. Children younger than 6 years old tend to swallow a lot of small items, but coins are the highest when it comes to foreign body ingestions among young children at 61.7%, according to a new AAP study. Across all age groups, the most frequently ingested coin was a penny (65.9%).

13. Gates

Baby gates are used to guard children from home hazards. Unfortunately, a study by Academic Pediatrics shows that children younger than 2 years of age were most often injured by falls involving stairs after the collapse of the gate. Patients between the ages of 2 and 6 were most often injured by contact with the gate, resulting in open wounds (55.4%) and soft-tissue injuries (24.2%).

14. Glass coffee table

The height of coffee tables makes them irresistible for toddlers to hold on to as they walk. But coffee tables made from non-tempered glass are a risk to children. A study by Pediatric Emergency Care found that facial injuries was most commonly involved, at 45.6%.

15. Blind cord

Blinds are a normal installation in a home but blind cord entanglement could cause hospitalization or death. In a study by AAP, 98.9% of entanglement injuries involved blind cords, and 80.7% were to the neck.

16.Button Battery

Shiny and candy-like, button batteries are ingested by children more 2,500 times a year in the United States. Certain types of button batteries, if swallowed, require an urgent endoscopic removal, according to a study by NCBI. This is to avoid sudden death by the button battery. As an immediate protection after swallowing, honey can used as it has been found to have protective effects against button battery injury according to researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

17. Unsecured book case

Bookcases are an example of the top-heavy furniture that many people often have in their home that can be dangerous to children. The same is true for shelving and other heavy furniture that is prone to falling

18. Uncovered plugs

Outlets are like a magnet, attracting children to these dangerous and potential sources of electrocution. Sadly, an estimated 100 children die due to electrocution from wall outlets. Exposed outlets should be covered with either plastic cap plugs or screw-on covers.

19. bathtub with water

From 2005 to 2009, an estimated 660 bathtub submersion accidents occurred with 431 estimated fatalities. An estimated 92 percent of drowning incidents took place in the home.

20. Plastic bags

Plastic baggies are a popular household item for parents because they are perfect for packing lunches. However, plastic baggies can be very hazardous for children. Plastic bags present a choking hazard for babies.

21. Humidifiers

If the humidifier is not properly cleaned, the humidifier can harbor all sorts of unwanted items, including mold spores, bacteria, and fungus. The humidifier should be cleaned and fully dried regularly.

Source: Internet and others