Growing Up with Plants

Here are some plant safety tips:

• Know the name of every plant in and around your home. Find out which ones are poisonous.
• If you have houseplants, put them out of reach. Store seeds and bulbs where your child cannot get them.
• Remember that holiday plants can be poisonous. These include mistletoe, holly and poinsettia.
• Encourage your baby to smell flowers and leaves. But don’t let her put them in her mouth.
• Don’t eat wild plants, especially mushrooms.
• Don’t make whistles, toys, garlands or wreaths from unknown plants.
• Learn to identify poison oak and poison ivy. Don’t touch the leaves, stems, or roots.

What if your child gets into poison oak or poison ivy?

As soon as possible:
1. Take off all her clothes.
2. Wash her skin well with soap and water.
3. Wash the clothes and shoes with hot water and soap.

If she develops a rash, call your doctor.

Ten safe plants for your home

These 10 plants are not poisonous. But plants may cause different reactions in different people. So make sure your child does not try to eat them. Teach her to pet the leaves instead.

This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your-Ten-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.

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