Here at Sprout, your child's safety is our top priority! From the kitchen to the bedroom and every room in between, we believe it is possible to prepare a space that is inviting, engaging, and safe for everyone. 

Jump To:

• Redirecting Unwanted Behavior
• In the Kitchen
• Around the Home
• In the Bedroom

Redirecting Unwanted Behavior

When you observe your child engaging in unsafe behavior, it can be beneficial to offer redirection instead of simply correcting their behavior.

For example, if a child is climbing on top of a table, you could say something like, "the table is for sitting. You can climb on your Pikler if you'd like to climb."

This can empower them to find another activity rather than giving them another rule to follow. This redirection can be used for behavior that is unsafe as well as behavior that is undesirable, such as throwing food or dumping out toys.

In the Kitchen

Including your child in the kitchen can be a wonderful way to bond and teach your child practical life skills. During this time together, observing proper safety measures will ensure that it is a more positive experience for everyone!

Toddler Tower Safety: 
- Your child should be able to confidently stand unassisted in the Tower, unless you are using the Full Plate attachment. 
-The dowel should always be fully locked into place when using the Toddler Tower. It is a vital part of the structure of the tower and your child should never use the Toddler Tower without the dowel. 
- Your child's belly button should be below the top of the Toddler Tower. If it is above it, it's time for the platform to be lowered.
- For children using the tallest platform setting, the guard plate should be used as well as the dowel. 
- If using the tower for a water activity such as washing hands or dishes, it is important to watch for spilled water on the platform because it can make it slippery and increase the risk of your child slipping and falling. 
-For younger children, the Full Plate can help offer additional support. Children using the Full Plate should always be supervised while using the tower.

Weaning Set Safety:
- Be sure that your child can sit unsupported in the weaning chair to reduce the risk of them falling forward.
- Small children should be supervised when eating while using the Weaning Set to minimize choking hazards. 
- Make sure that all 4 legs of the Weaning Table are fully locked into place and the seat of the Weaning Chair is correctly installed and locked into place. 

Around the Home

When considering your child's prepared environment, it is vital that their space is prepared in a way that is safe as well as inviting. 

Shelving- As a rule, all shelving should be securely anchored to a wall. Every Sprout shelf comes with a complimentary wall-anchoring kit. The only exception is the Infant Shelf, which does not require anchoring. This is because it was designed to be a height and length that provides a stable place to pull up on and cruise without the risk of tipping.

MakerWall- If there is a MakerWall in your home, do not ever allow anyone to climb on it. We understand that children love to explore their environment, however, the MakerWall was not designed to be used as a climbing structure. Please ensure your MakerWall is properly installed and be aware of the weight capacities of each attachment. 

Climbing Triangle- the ramp can be attached to any of the rungs to create a slide. However, if the ramp is on the highest rung of the tower, it can make it quite steep and smaller children may not be expecting to go down so fast. You might want to place cushions or pillows around the bottom of the ramp, as well as use it on a carpeted surface.  Additionally, make sure it's in an area that is clear of other items that could potentially cause harm if they fall off the triangle in any direction. Please use your best judgment when it comes to your child using the Climbing Triangle. 

For the Bedroom

General bedroom safety ensures that your child can independently explore their sleep space without worry of injury. All cords should be secured and up out of reach, outlets should be covered, and strings from blinds safely out of the way. Choking hazards should be removed, as well as any toys you may deem unsafe. Dressers and other heavy items, including shelving, should be properly anchored and attached to the wall. 

Bed safety - If you want the bed up against a wall, there needs to be a full sideboard (Sosta Bed) or the high side (Birch Montessori Floor Bed) along the wall to prevent entrapment of the child between the mattress and side of the bed. Additionally, for children under 3, the bed needs to be at least 12" away from the wall so as to prevent entrapment. Learn more about regulations for safe sleep.

Mattress Height- We recommend a mattress thickness between 4 and 8 inches. Any taller than this, and the mattress will be level with or higher than the high side of the bed, which renders it ineffective in providing the proper protection between the wall and bed. For more information on mattresses for floor beds, check out our Mattress Blog. 

Bedding- There are specific guidelines when it comes to safe bedding options for young children. You can refer to our Bedding Blog for more information. 

Bunk Bed Safety- Children under the age of 6 should not use the top bunk of a bunk bed. Additionally, nothing should be tied or attached to the bunk bed. See this page for a full list of safety regulations regarding the Sosta Bunk Bed.