Hot Potato: Preventing Hot Food Burns in Young Children

by Sara Jackson, CSW
Center for Safe & Healthy Families

With the cool weather rolling in and fall just around the corner, many of us desire warmer meals on those cool fall evenings. However nourishing, those hot meals can be dangerous for small kids. Hot stoves and scalding water can cause painful and dangerous burns. According to the American Burn Association, “Young children have thinner skin resulting in deeper burns than adults for the same temperature and exposure time to a scalding substance. The proportion of a child’s body that is exposed to any given amount of a scalding substance is also greater: the same cup of spilled coffee will burn a much larger percent of a small child’s body. “

It is important that whenever you are cooking, your children are never left unsupervised in the kitchen. Burns can happen in an instant, even when we are being careful. Here are a few tips to ensure that your family stays safe and prevents burns:

• Ensure that young children are out of the kitchen when you’re cooking.
• Place children in a high chair or a playpen a safe distance away from counters and the stove, etc.
• Make sure that the microwave is out of reach of young children. (For those using the microwave, the American Burn Association suggests that “The face of the person using the microwave should always be higher than the front of the door”)
• Never heat baby bottles in the microwave, especially those with plastic bottle liners. (When the bottle is inverted, plastic liners can burst, pouring scalding liquids onto the baby.)
• Always mix bottles of formula well and test the temperature on the back of your hand or inner wrist before feeding.
• Make sure food is cool enough to handle before giving it to your children.
• Make sure appliance cords are out of reach of children (cords should be coiled and away from counter edges.)
• Keep pot handles turned back, away from the stove’s edge.
• During meal time, place hot foods in the center of the table away from the edge.
• Use non-slip placemats instead of tablecloths (young children may pull the tablecloth trying to pull themselves up, causing hot food to spill on them.)
• Never drink or carry hot liquids while carrying a child.
• Do not place hot liquids on low tables that children can reach.

These suggestions can help ensure your children are safe and prevent hot food/hot drink burns. Follow these tips for fall food safety so you can sit down and enjoy a comforting bowl of soup on a cold day. For more information, visit the American Burn Association’s Website:

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Sara graduated with her Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University, and is a Certified Social Worker. She is currently working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She moved to Salt Lake City and has been enjoying getting to know the Southwest. In her free time, she loves hiking, biking, running, taking her dogs to the park, speaking Spanish, learning about other cultures, cooking, and creating self-serve frozen yogurt creations.