‘Tis the Season to Keep Your Child Safe While Holiday Shopping
Between shopping ’til you drop, and going to grandma’s house, some unique problems present themselves for keeping your child safe. Here are a few guidelines that will enable parents to maintain their child’s safety during all the season’s shopping trips and throughout the rest of the year.
Child Safety in the Parking Lot
It starts in the parking lot. If one or more of your children are going to be in a stroller, get it out and prepared before you let any child out of the car. Be completely ready to focus on the children before you open those car doors. Then start with the smallest child, securing them in the stroller before you let older children join you. This will keep the children safe from darting out between cars on their own and help prevent a pedestrian accident injury.
When you come back from your shopping trip, keep your children between you and your car while you unlock the doors. Have older children get in first and sit in their seats. The stroller should never be behind you or to the side. You want that stroller contained between you and the car while you unload packages. Then take the child out of the stroller and secure them in their car seat before dealing with stowing your stroller and other packages. Check to make sure all children are secured before leaving.
Containment Works to Prevent Accidents
Use the seat belt on strollers and shopping carts to keep your toddlers where you put them. You can also take a soft belt with you that will allow you to secure the child in shopping carts that don’t have seat belts. Just thread the belt through the back of the seat, bring the belt to the front of the child and secure. You want it tight enough that they can’t stand up in the seat, but loose enough that they are comfortable.The day will come when your child will flat refuse to sit in the cart or in a stroller.
When your children start to walk through the shops at your side, teach those three to five years-old to hold your hand. When you are carrying packages and don’t have a hand to spare, have the young child hold on to your back pocket. Another idea is to have them hold on to your belt or belt loop. This will allow you to feel that they are still right by your side.
Teach Safety
Start talking to your children about safety at an early age. Children love to play hide-and-seek in the middle of clothes racks. Teach them that this isn’t safe, and when you do play hide-and-seek with them at home, incorporate a word that indicates playtime is over. This is a word that you can say that will ALWAYS bring them (and you) out of hiding. Children can easily get separated from their parents in a crowded store or shopping center. Teach them what to do if this happens to them.
Have a plan in case you become separated, including a pre-designated spot to meet. Make sure they know their first and last name, your first name and how to find help. Make sure they never leave a store to look for you in the parking lot where pedestrian accident injuries occur.
Holiday Shopping
There are many child safety tips that are important while you are holiday shopping. Here is a quick reminder of some of the basics:
- Always go with children into public restrooms. They should not go alone. With older children of the opposite sex you can wait right outside the door.
- Never dress children in clothing that displays their first or last names. This can initiate unwelcome attention from people looking for an opportunity to start a conversation with your child.
- If you drop off older children at a mall or public place, make sure you agree on a clear plan. This plan should include where, what time, and what to do in case of a change in plans. You should also schedule check in calls.
Pedestrian Accident Injury Attorneys
Parking lots are hectic during the holiday shopping season with people driving to and fro. If you or your child suffers a pedestrian accident injury because of a distracted driver, contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys to schedule an initial free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help you 24/7.
Our office hours range from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and we also answer our phones at 844-977-1900 24/7. You can reach us through our online form or our LiveChat service. So don’t wait! We look forward to hearing from you.