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Survey: Parents not taking enough precautions to ensure toddler safety on vacation
Many parents do not actively take necessary precautions to keep their toddlers safe from harm during travel and while on vacation, according to a report from the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
“Each year, millions of families with toddlers travel during the holiday season, leaving behind their daily routine and child-proofed home environment — and putting the burden on parents to implement health and safety precautions while on the road,” Sarah J. Clark, MPH, of the University of Michigan, and colleagues wrote.
The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital contracted GfK Custom Research LLC to conducted a household survey in October 2016 among a randomly selected, stratified group representing the U.S. population. The cohort was later weighted to reflect population figures found in the U.S. Census Bureau. The results of the survey include the responses of 659 parents with at least one child aged 2 to 5 years.
Among those surveyed, 72% reported they had traveled with a toddler between 2014 and 2016. Parents also reported they were very concerned about a toddler becoming sick on vacation (17%), being injured (16%) and accidentally swallowing poison or medication left within reach (11%).
Regarding toddler health, most parents tried to ensure their toddler got enough sleep (88%) and avoided sick people (81%). Other strategies included using hand sanitizer on a toddler (61%), disinfecting bathrooms and other surfaces a toddler may touch (52%) and administering vitamin C to a toddler (23%).
When asked what methods of safety parents practice to ensure toddler safety during car travel and vacation:
- 85% placed their toddler in a car seat for every car ride;
- 75% kept medications out of toddler reach;
- 67% checked the hot water temperature in a vacation home;
- 67% kept guns and weapons out of toddler reach; and
- 65% kept cleaning supplies out of toddler reach.
Forty percent of parents reported actively taking all five of these safety precautions with their toddler during recent travel, whereas 3% reported they did not take any safety precautions.
It is important that parents use these safety precautions when traveling with a toddler to minimize risk for injury, poisoning and death, according to the report of the results. Of concern is that only two-thirds of parents surveyed reported they ensured weapons were out of toddler reach on vacation.
“Given recent instances of accidental shootings by and of toddlers, specific safety precautions related to guns and weapons are important to consider,” Clark and colleagues wrote. “Although some parents are uncomfortable bringing up this topic, parents have a legitimate reason to ensure that any and all weapons are stored in a safe manner.” – by Kate Sherrer
