It's become pretty obvious that children learn by example. So when your child sees you loading the washing machine, their curious minds begin to wander. In the wrong hands, this household chore could be a danger inside your very home. The washing machine could be surprisingly unsafe in the presence of young children. You should know these dangers and how to keep your child safe.

Potential Injuries
There's no single way for your kids to get hurt. There are several situations children can get themselves into that could lead to a nasty injury.

Falling - The majority of washing machine-related emergency room visits for children are related to falls. Be careful what you put around your machine and avoid placing unnecessary objects next to it that children can use to climb.  

Getting Stuck Inside - It's so easy for a child to find their way inside the washing machine. You have to be particularly careful if you have a front-loading washer, which has doors that are more easily accessible to children. This could result in the child suffocating or even drowning if the machine is on. The doors are often thick enough that you won't be able to hear any cries for help.

Keeping the Kids Safe
You may not be able to safe-proof your children, but fortunately, you can safe proof your appliance. Child injuries have been reported on both front and top loading machines, so you should take the following precautions. 

Talk to the Child - The most obvious thing to do is lecture your child. Tell them that playtime never includes the washing machine. However, it would be nice if all children listened automatically. That's why it's important to follow these additional tips.

Prevent Laundry Room Access - Make it harder for children to access the machine, to begin with. Make sure your washer is installed in a separate laundry room area, and keep that area locked.
Lock the Machine - Another thing you can do is simply lock your machine so children can't get into it. Many machines have special child-lock settings that are worth trying.  Some prevent the doors from opening altogether, while others prevent the machine from turning on while the door is functional.

It's become pretty obvious that children learn by example. So when your child sees you loading the washing machine, their curious minds begin to wander. In the wrong hands, this household chore could be a danger inside your very home. The washing machine could be surprisingly unsafe in the presence of young children. You should know these dangers and how to keep your child safe.

Potential Injuries
There's no single way for your kids to get hurt. There are several situations children can get themselves into that could lead to a nasty injury.

Falling - The majority of washing machine-related emergency room visits for children are related to falls. Be careful what you put around your machine and avoid placing unnecessary objects next to it that children can use to climb.  

Getting Stuck Inside - It's so easy for a child to find their way inside the washing machine. You have to be particularly careful if you have a front-loading washer, which has doors that are more easily accessible to children. This could result in the child suffocating or even drowning if the machine is on. The doors are often thick enough that you won't be able to hear any cries for help.

Keeping the Kids Safe
You may not be able to safe-proof your children, but fortunately, you can safe proof your appliance. Child injuries have been reported on both front and top loading machines, so you should take the following precautions. 

Talk to the Child - The most obvious thing to do is lecture your child. Tell them that playtime never includes the washing machine. However, it would be nice if all children listened automatically. That's why it's important to follow these additional tips.

Prevent Laundry Room Access - Make it harder for children to access the machine, to begin with. Make sure your washer is installed in a separate laundry room area, and keep that area locked.
Lock the Machine - Another thing you can do is simply lock your machine so children can't get into it. Many machines have special child-lock settings that are worth trying.  Some prevent the doors from opening altogether, while others prevent the machine from turning on while the door is functional.