Having a washer and dryer can be a lifesaver for some families. Although, if they have a toddler, it can be something else entirely. One mother made a brave post about her toddler who managed to get herself stuck in their front-load washing machine. She was scared of being “mom-shamed” online, but the need to spread awareness over washing machine safety was more important to her than that.
A hesitant mum
In 2018, Lindsey McIver shared a post on her Facebook about a situation she and her family had dealt with. A near-death experience had occurred when their toddler daughter had got herself trapped inside their front-load washing machine. At first, she was hesitant to post about it, because of the online mom trolls. However, she felt the need to spread the word. “I’ve been hesitant to write this post,” she wrote. “First, because of the inevitable online mom-shaming that is bound to ensue; and second, because it’s just really hard to re-live.”
HELP! My daughter was trapped in my front-load washing machine
In the post, Lindsey explained that they had bought a new washing machine after their old one broke. They were impressed by the modern look of it, and made sure their children knew they were not allowed to touch it. Reportedly, all children acknowledged this condition with an “OK“. But, children will be children, and their curiosity flies high in most cases.
“Early Tuesday morning we were woken up by our four-year-old son who was crying so hard he could barely talk,” read Lindsey’s post. “As I was trying to understand what he was saying, my husband flew out of bed and down the stairs. It was then that the realization hit. He had said: Kloe. Inside. Washer.
“By the time we reached the laundry room in the basement, my three-year-old daughter Kloe was LOCKED inside the airtight front-load washing machine. It was tumbling and filling with water. She was screaming but you couldn’t hear her. However, we were able to quickly stop it and unlock the door and get her out.” Consequently, she had a few injuries, but nothing major. “Aside from a couple of small bumps on her head and wet clothes, she was fine,” said Lindsay.
Read: Parent Doesn’t Allow Kids To Attend Sleepovers Because They Think They’re ‘Unsafe’
‘Blessed by God’
Lindsey and her husband wracked their brains with accusatory questions. But, at the end of the day, they concluded that God is watching over Kloe and their family. “After going through all the “what if‘s” and “could have’s” we know we are very blessed and God had mercy on our sweet daughter,” she wrote.
Lindsey also wants parents out there, grandparents, or anyone who has children coming over to visit to realize the importance of child safety locks for their front-load washing machines. She wrote: “I want to encourage anybody who has this type of front loading washing machine and small children, or even grandkids who visit, to lock the door with a child safety lock and always keep the child lock setting on!”
Read: Mom Warns Others About The Link Between A ‘Fishy Smell’ And Melting Electrical Outlets
Front-load washing machine safety tips
A front-load washing machine makes a fun game for toddlers who do not understand the repercussions of their actions. It is an easily accessible toy that they watch their parents “play” with. In most cases, their curiosity gets the better of them, as they strive to be like their parents.
There are washing machines available that come equipped with child locks on the doors that can be activated via the settings. Instructions for this are included in the manual. However, there are external child locks that you can attach to your machine. These are not that difficult to install and only require some adhesive.
Furthermore, you can try make the laundry room inaccessible for your toddler by putting a door onto the room. Or, you can build a cupboard around it. For more ideas on how to baby-proof your washing machine, you can check this article out from SF Gate.
Keep Reading: Fire Safety Tips for Preventing House Fires, from the Laundry Room to the Kitchen
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