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Hot Liquids and Appliances Can Burn Your Toddler

Last Updated: September 14, 2009

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Parenting Tips for Your 19-20 Month Old Toddler

Burns are very serious and painful for children. The problems and pain from a burn could last the rest of your child’s life. Most burns to children occur between birth and 4 years of age.


Most burns to children are caused by:

  • Hot liquids and foods, such as coffee, tea, and grease.
  • Touching hot surfaces, such as stoves, irons, and heaters.


These burns occur most often in the kitchen when hot liquids are spilled. Be careful when you are cooking and serving. Hot appliances can burn children. In this early age, children grow so fast parents are often not ready for what a baby can do. Toddlers can pull hot food off a table or touch a hot stove, while they are trying to walk.

A toddler will get in your way in the kitchen, and you can spill hot food on him. Change your habits and household before your child gets burned. Remember that your child might surprise you with his actions.


Here are some tips for preventing children’s burns:

  • Never eat, drink, or carry anything hot when you are carrying your child; you can’t handle both!
  • Never leave anything hot on the edge of a table or counter.
  • Be very careful when your child is with you in the kitchen. Don’t let him play in the kitchen when you are not there.


Learn more about Your Toddler: 19-20 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.


Note to Parents: When reading this newsletter, remember: Every baby is different. Children may do things earlier or later than described here. This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If he or she is used, we are talking about all babies.
References: These materials were adapted by authors from Extension Just in Time Parenting Newsletters in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

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