Toddler walking safety

Once your child learns to toddle and walk there’s no stopping him and he will relish his new found freedom. Don’t be surprised if he suddenly breaks into a trot when he discovers he can get to places faster that way!

When this happens you need to be careful that he understands things like road safety and sticking to the sidewalk at all times. The last thing you want is an excited toddler dashing into the road.

– Make sure he knows which areas he is and isn’t allowed to run in – for example, running is fine in the yard or in the park, but not while you walk by a busy road.

- If he has a habit of running ahead, you may need to get a harness to keep him safe. Otherwise, tell him he can only walk as far as the next tree or streetlight, where he has to wait for you, and keep him in view the whole time.

- Set a good example by always crossing the road in safe places – no jaywalking!

- Teach your child from an early age about hidden driveways and concealed roads.

- When he’s old enough, teach him how to cross the road safely.

By the time he reaches two years old, your toddler will be able to play running games and climb and jump from things. Again a few ground rules have to be set now:

- Make sure he knows he’s not allowed to jump from anything that moves, such as a swing, merry-go-round, trike or ride-on toy.

- He may enjoy jumping on and off furniture, so make sure bookshelves, TV stands and other heavy furniture can’t topple over buy securing it to the wall. Let him know his limits – he is not allowed to climb on the coffee table or on the kitchen countertop, for example.

- Make sure chairs he can climb onto are not placed by open windows, cabinets he can reach, or by stair rails with drops below them. He will explore and climb anything that looks fun without realizing it might be dangerous.

By the time he reaches three he should be a pretty proficient walker, runner and jumper and can probably weave in and out of trees at the park. You can encourage him to do activities like balancing games – ask him to stand on one leg and see how far he can count up too. He will be able to hop, skip and play all sorts of playground games that strengthen his growing limbs.

If your toddler gets lost

It’s important to remember that once your toddler can walk and run, he can also get lost…

- Teach your toddler his name and address and your cellphone number in case he gets lost.

- Sew or write his name and contact details onto the tag on his clothes or his backpack.

- If he does get lost, make sure he knows that he should stay in one place rather than run around trying to find you.

- Tell him to go into the nearest store and tell a uniformed security guard or a cashier if he gets lost. If you’re at the park tell him he needs to go tell another mommy with children.

Why not post a questions for our gurgle experts on this or any other subject at our answers page.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 03/07/2007

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