Staying safe in the kitchen - top tips

By Kim Johnson

child and mother cooking Scrapes and bruises are part and parcel of growing up but no one wants a child to be seriously injured or even killed in an accident that can be prevented. Parenting expert Kim Johnson talks about how to avoid perils in the kitchen

Latest figures show that there were an alarming 416,806 accidents each year in the home involving under fives, with over 42,800 toddlers visiting UK hospitals because of a kitchen-related accident.

Of course, that number doesn't take into account the thousands of accidents that are not reported.

The average mum spends two or more hours in the kitchen each day, so keeping toddlers safe in the most hazardous room in the house is a real safety concern.

Hot ovens, boiling pans, sharp knives, drawers and cupboards are all sources of adventure for the inquisitive toddler so it's no wonder we parents need eyes in the backs of our heads.

And if you lock them out of the kitchen, you don't know what they're up to elsewhere and sticking them in front of the TV isn't great for their development either as their metabolic rate is as slow as when they're asleep.

The risks are not even worth taking, and we can do small things to ensure our children are not burnt or injured.

My simple tips for keeping your little one safe in the kitchen:

Control the chaos. Try to keep tidy as you go along. Mop up spilt sauces and mess straight away and make sure sharp instruments are not lurking. Keep it locked. Put cabinet locks onto all drawers and cabinets in your kitchen. This will stop little fingers opening what they shouldn't and you are safe in the knowledge that they cannot access hidden dangers. Never stand your little one on a chair. They offer little support, can be slippery and so easy to fall off. Watch hot pots. Always pay attention to what you have on the hob. Make sure handles are place securely, turned inward is best, and aren't at risk of being knocked off. There are a staggering amount of children scalded each year so try and make sure pans don't boil over either.

Kim Johnson is a mum to six-year-old daughter Aimee, and founder of Little Helper - the company behind the multi-award winning FunPod, a unique kitchen gadget that allows children to safely reach the kitchen worktop and interact, learn and play with their parents. Kim regularly attends obesity forums at Westminster and has worked with one of the leading Professors of Childhood Obesity, Professor Paul Gately of Leeds Metropolitan University

To find out more about the FunPod, visit www.littlehelper.co.uk