In the excitement of having the grandkids visit, it’s easy to forget that your house may no longer be set up for little ones.

Here are some tips to help make your time together safe:

• Store medicines in a locked cabinet.
• Set the thermostat on your hot-water heater to 120°F or lower. Children’s bodies are more sensitive to hot water than adults’ bodies.
• Cover all unused electrical outlets with safety caps.
• Keep surfaces free of small objects that could be swallowed. These include rings, coins, and hearing-aid batteries.
• Use safety latches on cabinets containing cleaning products.
• Hide electrical cords away from little teeth.
• Don’t use large placemats or tablecloths. A child could tug on them and overturn hot food and drinks.
• Use child safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. But avoid accordion-style gates with openings large enough for little heads.

Finally, remember to keep numbers for the emergency room, poison control center, and the child’s doctor by the phone—just in case.

Western Baptist Hospital offers Grandparenting Classes to help you prepare for keeping young children in your home. If you’re a grandparent, church nursery worker, or other caregiver, consider this important, informative class. The next class is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6, in the Atrium Classroom of Western Baptist Hospital’s Doctors Office Building 2. To register, or for more information, call 270-575-2229.