Childproofing your resort room isn’t the most glamorous aspect of planning your next Walt Disney World vacation, but taking a few minutes before you leave can give you peace of mind later. Most of us with children childproofed our homes as soon as we figured out just how dangerous our innocuous looking houses can be to a rambunctious toddler, but few of us think about doing the same thing while on vacation.
While it’s no substitute for a keeping a watchful eye on your child, there are a few things you can do to make your resort room or rental house more safe.
Here are some quick solutions for the most obvious danger areas:
- You can put safety plugs into light sockets in about two minutes flat. Even better, they’re super cheap, at just a few dollars a dozen.
- Move delicate lamps and and knickknacks out of your toddler’s reach. If you’re staying in a villa or a rental home, check under sinks and in lower cabinets for dangerous objects and move those as well.
- Don’t forget to lock the upper latch of your hotel room door. Most hotel rooms use European – style handles, making it very easy for a small child to quickly open the door. You’ll want the added measure of safety that comes from securing the top latch.
- Most Disney resort rooms have a second lock on sliding glass doors that go out to balconies. If you’re worried about these doors despite this added precaution, consider buying a special safely latch that attaches to the glass with adhesive.
- Many rental houses in the Orlando area have pools. Make sure the door that leads out to the pool has an upper latch or an alarm system that will keep little ones from opening the door and wandering out. Verify this with your rental agent before you travel.
As always, you’ll want to base your choices on your individual child’s needs, keeping in mind that it’s possible for even the most mindful parent to be a little bit distracted—to say nothing of being overly tired—on vacation. Most safety equipment today can be attached with adhesives that won’t take off paint or cause permanent damage to surfaces. Everything you need to childproof on vacation should fit into a gallon-sized ziploc bag. When you’re done, leave it for the rental company or donate it to a mom in need.
What tips can you offer families to make their room a safer place? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments.