Child safety in the kitchen

In the kitchen, we can create the most wonderful memories with our children, cooking together, baking cookies, muffins and cakes that they love. In addition to the obvious safety measures, we can also consider a few more things to keep everything running according to plan.

An adult watches a child at a light brown PINNTORP table eat chocolate cake mix with a spatula from a green mixing bowl.

An adult watches a child in a red shirt prepare fruit on a bamboo APTITLIG chopping board with a SMÅBIT knife and peeler.

How to think about child safety in the kitchen

There is a lot of stimulation in the kitchen. Sounds and smells can be fascinating for young children. And you can’t always give them your full attention since you often have your hands full already. So, keeping potential hazards out of reach or securely locked away is the key for general kitchen safety.

As they get older, they may want to participate in the grown-up activities. With some simple products and basic precautions, you can start to let your child help with the food preparation, and begin to learn more about household tasks.

At a white table, an adult holds a white/patterned FRIKOSTIG mug and a bun as a child plays with MÅLA series pens and paper.

Did you know

Your child has much thinner skin than you, so your lukewarm cup of coffee could still feel burning hot to them.

Some safety features of a child-friendly kitchen

With children around, the main kitchen safety advice is to secure all items

In a bright kitchen, a baby in an ANTILOP highchair sits at an ash veneer LISABO table with an adult and another child.

A few general safety tips for your kitchen

Just like in the rest of your home, fixing your furniture to the wall is essential when it comes to safety.
Make sure that your oven has a child-safety lock, like our new MUTEBO oven which also has an A⁺⁺ energy rating and will help you save energy.
When cooking, it's best to use the rings at the back of the stove so that your children can't accidentally touch them. Or, you can use a MATMÄSSIG induction hob and get rid of that problem all together.
You can attach UTRUSTA safety latches to drawers and doors to limit access to knives and other utensils.
If you can't store bleach and other cleaning products in a high place, you could always fit UNDVIKA safety latches to prevent your little scientists from experimenting with new substances.
Try to keep bags and other plastic items out of their reach in drawers with safety latches or high cupboards.

Gripping two wooden utensils, a child in a grey jumper places cooked spaghetti on to a white IKEA 365+ plate.

Safety advice for meal times

If your baby is not ready to sit in a chair, use an ANTILOP highchair. Because it has a wide, stable base and safety belt, you'll be able to prevent any escape attempts and stop it from toppling over.
You can also add an ANTILOP tray to the highchair. This way, your baby won't be able to reach or kick the table, and you can leave their food on it so they gain a bit more independence.
UNDVIKA and PATRULL corner bumpers on tables will help prevent unwanted bumps from accidental head injuries.