We want to make sure you, your guests, and your budding socialite have a smashing (and safe!) time this holiday season, so follow these tips for babyproofing your bash from Angela Mickalide, Ph.D., a spokesperson for the Home Safety Council:
- Keep those yummy appetizer platters out of reach. Bite-size goodies (cheese cubes, nuts, dried fruits, and raw veggies) can all be choking hazards. Watch out for dropped food, too.
- Forget the tablecloth. Babies love to pull at tablecloths' hanging edges, which can bring whatever's on top -- plates, glasses, silverware -- crashing down.
- Toss unfinished glasses of spiked eggnog. Alcohol of any kind can be toxic to a baby.
- Stash handbags. Your tiny partyer might find medication, hard candy, and more in Aunt Judy's purse, so put your guests' belongings in a closet or out of reach.
- Decorate simply. Yay, an excuse to do less! Avoid sharp or breakable trimmings; skip poisonous holiday plants such as holly berries and amaryllis; and look out for choking hazards, like bows, ribbons, and even mistletoe.
