| It's amazing how fearless toddlers can
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| | can be hazardous. If you were to
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| be. Their innocence about the world
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| | interview a hundred ER physicians, most
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| around them allows them to pick up
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| | of them would tell you stories about
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| objects that we know are best left alone.
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| | clashes between little kids and household
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| They will put all sorts of things in
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| | items. A classic story is the physician
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| their mouths, poke at others, prod at
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| | who removed a nickel from the nose of a
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| some, and try to take equipment or toys
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| | five-year-old! This is a good time to
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| apart while you, the adult, cringe in
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| | teach your toddler that loose items and
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| worry of what's to come of this open
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| | their orifices isn't a good match.
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| curiosity. Fortunately, most of these
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| | Outside, toddlers think nothing of
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| worrying habits cause no harm to the
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| | touching and/or picking up things out of
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| toddler or none of us would have survived
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| | curiosity that would make an adult
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| our parents' worry past kindergarten!
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| | shriek! Bugs, worms, plants - nothing's
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| However, there are some situations that
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| | safe from a four-year-old sleuth. If you
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| are dangerous or could even prove fatal
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| | live in the south, you know that
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| for the unsuspecting toddler. Inside and
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| | Mistletoe grows abundantly on trees much
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| outside of the house, a toddler requires
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| | like moss. Kids are drawn to this pretty
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| constant supervision to keep them safe
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| | parasite and have no idea that, if
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| from the very world around them and the
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| | ingested, it's deadly poison! Jimsonweed
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| myriad troubles they can get themselves
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| | is a common, rather pretty, roadside herb
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| into. A toddler has no notion of what is
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| | that causes intense hallucinations and
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| safe and what isn't, so it's up to the
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| | psychotic behavior if chewed. These are
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| adult to watch for these dangers.
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| | just two examples of common plant
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| Inside your home, everybody knows about
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| | hazards; teach your child never to put
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| covering electric sockets, stoves, and
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| | anything in his/her mouth that you
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| keeping chemicals and medicines out of
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| | haven't okayed. Bugs are generally
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| children's reach. But your home is beset
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| | harmless if eaten, but it's not a good
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| with dangers you probably haven't thought
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| | idea to take chances.
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| about. You know how dogs like to drink
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| | Teach your toddlers never to touch a
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| out of toilets? So do toddlers! There
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| | snake, lizard, turtle, toad, or any other
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| must be something innately fascinating
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| | creature of the outdoor world unless an
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| about toilet bowls that lures dogs and
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| | adult is present. While most of these
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| children. Try keeping the lid down and
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| | critters are harmless, toddlers don't
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| the bathroom door shut. Your dog may be
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| | know a garden snake from a copperhead!
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| unhappy, but your child will be
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| | Alligator snapping turtles can whack off
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| germ-free.
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| | a toddler's tiny finger in a split
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| Toddlers are also drawn to pet food. Fish
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| | second. If you live in a rural area, it's
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| food, bird seed, dried dog food -
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| | imperative that you teach your child to
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| toddlers, with their perfectly reasonable
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| | leave outdoor citizens alone! If you live
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| logic, think that if it's okay for the
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| | near a beach, teach your toddler that sea
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| pets to eat, it must be okay for them to
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| | urchins, crabs, and jellyfish can hurt
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| eat! After all, pets eat human food, so
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| | them despite their harmless and
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| why can't we eat animal food? Try gently
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| | fascinating appearances.
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| reminding your toddler that animal food
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| | Toddlers have a seemingly endless
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| is only okay for animals, not for people.
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| | curiosity; this is a good thing, it's how
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| Be prepared for that ever-popular
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| | they learn about the world around them.
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| question, "But WHY?"
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| | Part of that learning is differentiating
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| There are dozens of choking hazards in
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| | the fun things from the harmful things,
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| your home. Rubber bands, paper clips,
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| | both indoors and outdoors. Curiosity,
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| twisty-ties from bread wrappers, coins,
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| | tempered with discipline, leads to fun
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| even food items like chips and crackers
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| | and knowledge.
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