Razors and safety with kids

[Luc]

I tried to search this subject and couldn't find anything. As per usual, if there's something, please, show me the thread!

I do not have any kids at the moment, there might be some in the long term plan, I don't know, not there yet. However, I do have a few nephews and nieces. I know that you cannot leave anything unattended with kids, they could be 1 month old or 15 yo!

I was wondering how you keep your wetshaving supplies safe. Specially the razors blades or straights. Having a tube of cream being emptied on the floor would be a tragedy but having a kid cut himself/herself with one of my razors would be terrible.

Are you locking your goodies in a cabinet, is there a special place were you hide sharp objects?

The age varies at the moment from 2yo to 12yo. I know I can have a chat with them but I think if they don't know where it lives, it safer.

[Mycon]

I would vote for locking the sharp stuff up.
A friend of mine from work had a very unfortunate incident with a DE blade when she was little. I'll spare you the fairly graphic details (it made my fingers hurt just to hear it,) but she climbed up to the top shelf of a closet to get it.

[GoldenMonkey]

Luc, keep that Bull Mastiff away from them...if they drop that on a foot, there's gonna be broken bones!

[tlanning]

Placing item out of the reach of little fingers, (high) worked for me untill the age of understanding. Our bathroom, which usually had access from our bedroom was always "OFF LIMITS". If that solution isn't possible, theres always the child proof thingys for cabinets and drawers.

[Robxcarlson]

I have a 2 1/2 year old son and I don't lock my blades away... I just keep them out of reach in a tall cabinet. Only once did I forget and leave a razor on the counter after shaving. I came in and found my son with blood all over his face - fortunately it turned out he nicked his finger tip and just touched his face - perhaps he was "painting," he didn't seem bothered, but it was enough to scare me so that I never leave razors on the counter anymore.
Little kids are very curious, though, so this sort of thing is a constant concern.

[Eman]

I have a 2 1/2 year old son and I don't lock my blades away... I just keep them out of reach in a tall cabinet. Only once did I forget and leave a razor on the counter after shaving. I came in and found my son with blood all over his face - fortunately it turned out he nicked his finger tip and just touched his face - perhaps he was "painting," he didn't seem bothered, but it was enough to scare me so that I never leave razors on the counter anymore.
Little kids are very curious, though, so this sort of thing is a constant concern.

+1 I have three kids and just keep my stuff up high on a shelf and have not had a problem, yet. If there are other kids coming over I just put my straights or anything I don't want broken away in my bedroom so they are not tempted to check the shiny things out.

[Luc]

Thanks for the answers everyone. If there are more ideas, please post them!

I think the safe bet will be to keep a lock on them or leave them out of reach depending on the crowd!

[TheBigL]

My 2 year old son got into my stuff a couple times. I learned the first time.

I keep my razors up high on the bathroom shelf, until he get's taller. I only keep one of them loaded at a time as well.

When he got into a pack of blades, I felt so bad. He wasn't bothered by the small cut, but he did bleed some. Now I keep my blades in an old combination locked coin safe. Except for the one pack I'm currently using, which is in the top dresser drawer and I am careful to not access those blades when he is around to see me.

Unfortunately, I don't have any other place to store my creams. I have found tube shaving cream on the floor and some tube caps lying around.

[SRock]

My daughter 10 understands the risk and wouldn't dare risk hurting herself. My son 5 on the other hand is indestructable (at least in his own mind) so as others have mentioned "Mommy and Daddy's" bathroom is off limits. Additionally all of the blades are in a container well out of reach.

[RBE17]

I currently just keep them in a drawer in our vanity. My daughter has never shown interest in opening the drawer or wanting to go into it. Now that I have quite a few blades I want to get a small locking box to keep them in.

[Rutgers Football]

i have educated the kids and lock the blades away, anyway.

for now, the cheap plastic kid-proofing devices work on the bathroom cabinets. although kids do figure these out.

i showed them the razors and blades and explained the dangers of touching either (blade could be in razor). i stress this to them whenever it comes up in context. they have a healthy respect for the blades and to not bump into Daddy when he's shaving!

[wlk]

i showed them the razors and blades and explained the dangers of touching either (blade could be in razor). i stress this to them whenever it comes up in context. they have a healthy respect for the blades and to not bump into Daddy when he's shaving!

Right, same here, 3 years old girl.
Showing the razor with blades mounted when I'm "bearding" (as she says), and explaining that she should never touch it because it would hurt badly seems to inspire enough respect for this daddy's thing.

[FEDOR]

You could always buy an inexpensive wood humidor with a lock. or even a locking like, not too feminine jewelry box to hold blades and straights

[40boy]

You could always buy an inexpensive wood humidor with a lock.

Great Idea!

[koso]

I toss old blades through the medicine cabinet slot.

Working razors are on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet. The 2 year-old boy isn't aware of that yet. The 5 year-old girl who likes to shave with me understands that razors might have blades in them; she isn't to touch one unless daddy has checked it first to make sure it isn't 'sharp'.

New blades I keep in prescription pill bottles (with silica gel packets) that have lock tops. Those go into daddy's cologne box, which is in the bedroom up out of reach.

[LittleJon]

I only keep creams and soaps in the bathroom. My razor and blades are on a high shelf in my home office. I have to walk it over every time I shave but I have a very curious 3yr old girl, maybe when she grows up but this will do for now.

[waterbear]

As an alternative you could lock the kids up until they are 30.:rolleyes:
Seriously, a bit of common sense is what is required. Kids are going to be kids and you have to stay one step ahead of them. Lock up dangerous items out of reach (and not just razors and blades. Just take a look in any bathroom or kitchen and see all the things that are potentially harmful to children, including some of the food in the refrigerator!)

[toucanlamp]

Once upon a time kids were allowed to go out and explore and confront a few of the hazards of existence and they didn't all die horrible deaths or get abducted by rapists.

If a kid is young enough not to know that you don't grab something sharp by the edge, then I doubt they'd know how to slide the blade out of the plastic case, and unwrap it, or reach the bathroom counter for that manner. And a kid who doesn't yet know that sharp things are dangerous is probably not one you are going to let out of your sight anyways because things you like have a tendency to get broken.

But we know how when a little kid stubs his toe he'll react as if someone just shot him in the kneecap or sawed into his arm and poured alcohol into the wound lol, so the first time they cut themselves is probably the last. They aren't going to slit their wrists with it.

[MoreSaltThanPepper]

I don't have kids either, Luc but I do have an entirely too curious Max Cat. I have a blade bank with a slit that*just* allows a blade to slip through and my razors are kept in dimestore cedar boxes with catches on the lids.

My first really "good" cut came from a shick injector and I remember it like it was yesterday. I can still remember the shock that something so pretty was so dangerous :ohmy:

-

[Capaldo]

Thanks, toucanlamp, I’ve been waiting for dissension. I agree with most of what’s been said here as far as the best ways to keep kids safe around razors, but I toucanlamp has a point regarding insulating our children from risk.

I keep my blades tucked away, but a couple loaded razors on my vanity, a little out of easy reach. I try to educate my 4 y/o about things like pocketknives, tools, fire and now razors. I try to mitigate the dangers involved, but I don’t want to make potentially dangerous items taboo, and therefore enticing. I give him the chance to fail, get scared, get hurt. I think teaching him, or allowing him to learn, about dangerous things, in a relatively safe manner, is a good defense against the greater danger of encountering these things unprepared.

[Luc]

Thanks guys, those a great tricks!

I am trying to foresee a non-regular visit from my family. I guess locking/storing will be me only solution as I do not think that a 20 minutes class on safety with each kid (that isn't mine) would work. I do have my answer up here so I'm happy, thanks again!

[Walter Sobchak]

I toss old blades through the medicine cabinet slot.

Working razors are on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet. The 2 year-old boy isn't aware of that yet. The 5 year-old girl who likes to shave with me understands that razors might have blades in them; she isn't to touch one unless daddy has checked it first to make sure it isn't 'sharp'.

New blades I keep in prescription pill bottles (with silica gel packets) that have lock tops. Those go into daddy's cologne box, which is in the bedroom up out of reach.

+1 My working razor stays loaded but it's neatly tucked into the corner high in the medicine cabinet and my 'working' blades are in a pill bottle in the medicine cabinet.

I keep my bulk blades in our master bath closet in a dopp kit on a high shelf that none of my children can reach. I'm thinking about getting a simple lock box for them though. Kids get big fast!

[pmast]

I have a 6 yo boy and a 4 yo boy. The four yo is autistic and often reacts to pain by recreating it ie. If someone hits him, he will hit himself again and again hard enough to bruise. I don't want him to find a razor. I have allowed my oldest to touch a light bulb that was hot when he was little so he would stop unscrewing them and playing with them. As you can see, I don't want my kids shielded from the world, but I do want them safe from major injuries. I have a Gilette slim without a blade in a stand with a brush on the counter. Both kids have discovered and gotten bored with them. They have each been lectured about not playing with any other razors. The razors I use are in a pencil box in the back of a drawer with a child proof lock, also unloaded. I keep the blades, bladebank and straight razors in a seperate box in a drawer that is six feet up and difficult to open. If I find I need more security I will simply buy a locking strong box. I keep kitchen knives in a cabinet that I built for them mounted on the side of a free standing pantry with a locking latch.

[pmast]

I hadn't thought of putting blades in a pill bottle. That's such a simple easy solution its like I could have had a V8 moment. Thanks!

[waterbear]

thanks, toucanlamp, i’ve been waiting for dissension. I agree with most of what’s been said here as far as the best ways to keep kids safe around razors, but i toucanlamp has a point regarding insulating our children from risk.

I keep my blades tucked away, but a couple loaded razors on my vanity, a little out of easy reach. I try to educate my 4 y/o about things like pocketknives, tools, fire and now razors. I try to mitigate the dangers involved, but i don’t want to make potentially dangerous items taboo, and therefore enticing. I give him the chance to fail, get scared, get hurt. I think teaching him, or allowing him to learn, about dangerous things, in a relatively safe manner, is a good defense against the greater danger of encountering these things unprepared.

+1

[Rudeboy]

I keep everything on a high shelf. I did give my 2 and 4 year olds a ball end tech so they can shave with daddy though. They love when I make the lather. They fight over who gets lathered up first. Then they take turns shaving. It's funny because they are so careful and precise with the razor to their face. We have had the talks about daddy's razor but I leave their tech on the counter so they can get to it.

[r0ckrat]

Once upon a time kids were allowed to go out and explore and confront a few of the hazards of existence and they didn't all die horrible deaths or get abducted by rapists.

If a kid is young enough not to know that you don't grab something sharp by the edge, then I doubt they'd know how to slide the blade out of the plastic case, and unwrap it, or reach the bathroom counter for that manner. And a kid who doesn't yet know that sharp things are dangerous is probably not one you are going to let out of your sight anyways because things you like have a tendency to get broken.

But we know how when a little kid stubs his toe he'll react as if someone just shot him in the kneecap or sawed into his arm and poured alcohol into the wound lol, so the first time they cut themselves is probably the last. They aren't going to slit their wrists with it.


Thanks, toucanlamp, I’ve been waiting for dissension. I agree with most of what’s been said here as far as the best ways to keep kids safe around razors, but I toucanlamp has a point regarding insulating our children from risk.

I keep my blades tucked away, but a couple loaded razors on my vanity, a little out of easy reach. I try to educate my 4 y/o about things like pocketknives, tools, fire and now razors. I try to mitigate the dangers involved, but I don’t want to make potentially dangerous items taboo, and therefore enticing. I give him the chance to fail, get scared, get hurt. I think teaching him, or allowing him to learn, about dangerous things, in a relatively safe manner, is a good defense against the greater danger of encountering these things unprepared.
Yes!
(And I am not having children. A personal choice arrived at after years of discussion with my wife.)

[wlk]

Thinking about this, I'm not sure the razor is the most dangerous thing in the place.
Being hurt by electric shocks, knives, housecleaning chemicals, falling in the stairs, doors locked on fingers... All those things sounds more risky to me.

[Hanzo]

I've actually worked with toddlers at a preschool and I have a 3 year old.Behind LOCK and KEY with all razors and blades thats the only solution I see. High shelves? Kids find climbing fun and even 2 year olds push chairs, especially a chair with wheels to wherever they want to climb and reach. Reason? I would not chance it , just like you half listen to kids talking to you, they can half listen to adults talking. We like to think we can scare kids into obedience and its a sign of superior competence as a parent to make them listen " or else" but the RISK of a child of any age playing with a straight razor or de blades or loaded razors is too great a risk on " making my kids mind me" and feeling effective as a parent.

Having worked with kids we spent a lot of time creating and keeping the environment safe. We never had a serious injury but it took much monitoring and vigilance. Kids can defeat child proofing and turn even the most harmless wagon, toy bat, or wooden toy into a instrument of death. So why take chances with them with razors, lock and key only.

[Hausmets]

Great thread!

I made an account just to say that :P

[SRock]

Great thread!

I made an account just to say that :P

Welcome to the B&B! Be sure to check in in the newbie section and enjoy the ride!

[RBE17]

Once upon a time kids were allowed to go out and explore and confront a few of the hazards of existence and they didn't all die horrible deaths or get abducted by rapists.

If a kid is young enough not to know that you don't grab something sharp by the edge, then I doubt they'd know how to slide the blade out of the plastic case, and unwrap it, or reach the bathroom counter for that manner. And a kid who doesn't yet know that sharp things are dangerous is probably not one you are going to let out of your sight anyways because things you like have a tendency to get broken.

But we know how when a little kid stubs his toe he'll react as if someone just shot him in the kneecap or sawed into his arm and poured alcohol into the wound lol, so the first time they cut themselves is probably the last. They aren't going to slit their wrists with it.

How old are your children?

[SavantStrike]

I've actually worked with toddlers at a preschool and I have a 3 year old.Behind LOCK and KEY with all razors and blades thats the only solution I see. High shelves? Kids find climbing fun and even 2 year olds push chairs, especially a chair with wheels to wherever they want to climb and reach. Reason? I would not chance it , just like you half listen to kids talking to you, they can half listen to adults talking. We like to think we can scare kids into obedience and its a sign of superior competence as a parent to make them listen " or else" but the RISK of a child of any age playing with a straight razor or de blades or loaded razors is too great a risk on " making my kids mind me" and feeling effective as a parent.

Having worked with kids we spent a lot of time creating and keeping the environment safe. We never had a serious injury but it took much monitoring and vigilance. Kids can defeat child proofing and turn even the most harmless wagon, toy bat, or wooden toy into a instrument of death. So why take chances with them with razors, lock and key only.

:lol::lol::lol:

I think you might be a tad paranoid, but yes kids can do some dangerous things.

[kvanhorn]

I started using a DE and truly wetshaving only in the last week, and with a 4yo and 9mo in the house I've been worried.

I can keep the new blades and razor out of reach. How do you guys deal with used blades though? Just dumping them in the trash is out. Stuffing them back in a blade case seems like a recipe for nicked fingers.

I'm thinking about the pill bottle approach: put used blades in a pill bottle (with childproof lid) and throw the whole thing out once a month or so... could even fill the bottle with a little alcohol to keep things sanitary.

[Rutgers Football]

i use a coffee can; tape the top shut with packing tape; put a slit in the top; just large enough for a blade to slip through; keep the can in a child proof cabinet, just in case.

[pmast]

There is a thread on making blade banks for cheap and it can be done in a variety of ways. I use Altoids tins super glued shut with a slot cut in one end of the lid-kind of like the american Persona packages. The can of broth with a slit in the top is cheaper and yields more storage, but I like Altoids and it takes less space. I wouldn't bother with the alcohol.

[RBE17]

How do you guys deal with used blades though? Just dumping them in the trash is out. Stuffing them back in a blade case seems like a recipe for nicked fingers.

Buy a blade bank from West Coast Shaving for $1.

[Jaybird180]

... How do you guys deal with used blades though? Just dumping them in the trash is out. Stuffing them back in a blade case seems like a recipe for nicked fingers....

With a newborn on the way, I'd been thinking this very thing


Buy a blade bank from West Coast Shaving for $1.

Why must we default to a consumer solution?

[mretzloff]

Lock at least the sharp stuff up. My younger brother was curious and messed around with my loaded DE razor and cut himself. It hurt him badly and took forever to stop bleeding.

[mretzloff]

Why must we default to a consumer solution?

We don't. Take a can of evaporated milk, cut a slit in it, pour the milk out (via the slit), rinse it, and voila! You can drop your blades in and not have to worry about being cut. Plus, the can cost you nothing (unless you pour the milk down the sink).

[Jason T.]

I don't have any kids but if I did, I'd keep my razors and blades locked up in one of those metal safe boxes (such as a petty cash box) and keep it hidden in my bedroom. I couldn't risk leaving blades around if children were about.

[Ohio]

Lock at least the sharp stuff up. My younger brother was curious and messed around with my loaded DE razor and cut himself. It hurt him badly and took forever to stop bleeding.


I bet he didn't do it again...

[RBE17]

Why must we default to a consumer solution?

You don't have to, but for a $1 when placing an order it's worth the money. Plus, I've seen kids get those childproof lids off of pill bottles. They're your kids, your choices and you'll do what you feel is in their best interest.

[Jaybird180]

Why must we default to a consumer solution?


I said that to say that a home made solution should be preferred. This is an "old-fashioned" hobby, right?

[RBE17]

I said that to say that a home made solution should be preferred. This is an "old-fashioned" hobby, right?

Gotcha. I agree that a home made solution is more eloquent. When it comes to my kids I default to what's safer.:cool:

[_JP_]

I can only go by my own experience growing up. I knew that I wasn't supposed to mess with Dad's razors because I had been told that I could cut myself with them. And I had no real fascination with them either, at that time. They were kept in the cabinet above the sink where they were out of sight and out of mind.

[Jaybird180]

...and did you fool around with them?

I can recall going into my grandparent's medicine chest. Some of the pills were yummy :tongue: