As we enter the festive season, a pediatrician is cautioning parents of small children to think twice about a popular holiday decoration. Dr. Em, a pediatrician and mother, warns against the use of metal stocking holders, citing them as potential hazards that could lead to serious injuries.
Dr. Em’s warning comes from a place of both professional expertise and personal experience, highlighting concerns that many parents may not have considered. “The parents use those heavy holders for the stockings, and what do babies do when they see stockings?” she asked in a video. “They tug on them!”
The danger lies in the potential for injury if a child pulls on a stocking and the heavy metal holder comes crashing down. In many cases, these holders can fall directly onto a child’s face, leading to injuries that can be as severe as requiring stitches.
“Children grab the stocking because they can’t see up top… and they try to pull the stocking down,” Dr. Em explained. “What happens is that the stocking holder comes down almost always on their face.”
@dr.emzieees PSA!!
This is not an isolated concern. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are, on average, about 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season. In 2022, approximately 14,800 people were treated in the ER for decor-related injuries.
To avoid such accidents, Dr. Em advises parents of young children, especially those aged between 3 to 5 years, to ditch the bulky metal stocking holders. Instead, she suggests using lightweight command hooks that pose no danger to children. As a mother of a toddler herself, she follows her own advice and uses command hooks for her family’s stockings.
While it’s challenging to determine how many of these injuries are due to metal stocking holders, NBC News reported that there were at least 20 recorded injuries among young children from this decoration in 2008 alone. This included incidents where a 2-year-old boy was left with a deep puncture wound between his eyes and a 4-year-old girl had her toe crushed by a falling stocking holder.
Therefore, as we approach this festive season, parents are urged to display their decorations wisely and ensure a safe environment for their little ones. Santa, after all, can still fill the stockings, even if they are hung with lightweight hooks.
As we continue to navigate this festive season, it’s crucial to strike a balance between maintaining traditions and ensuring safety. As Dr. Em suggests, simple adjustments like using lightweight command hooks instead of heavy metal stocking holders can make all the difference. It’s a timely reminder that safety should never take a backseat, even during the most wonderful time of the year.
The advice from Dr. Em highlights a broader need for increased awareness and safety measures during the holiday season. While Christmas decorations bring joy and warmth, they can also pose a risk, particularly to young children. This underscores the importance of re-evaluating our traditions, ensuring they are not only festive but also safe.
As we progress through the holiday season, it’s essential to remember that safety doesn’t have to come at the cost of tradition. Subtle changes like using lightweight hooks instead of heavy stocking holders can keep the festive spirit alive without risking harm to our little ones.
Looking forward, perhaps it’s time for a shift in the industry to develop safer, child-friendly holiday decorations. After all, isn’t the greatest gift we can give this Christmas the assurance of a safe and joyful celebration for all? It’s food for thought as we deck our halls this festive season.
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