How To Avoid Hidden Danger On Playground Slides

Experts are warning about a new danger on the playground: Going down slides with your toddler on your lap. It appears that well-intentioned parents who do this thinking it's safer than letting their little one go down alone, are actually putting their kids in more danger.

What's so dangerous about going down slides with your toddler on your lap? This Yahoo! article explains:

Parents may not notice when their child's shoe catches on the side of the slide for a second or two, but that, combined with the speed at which the parent and child are zipping down the slide, can create enough friction to break the child's shin bone (tibia). Instead, what parents do notice is that at the bottom of the slide, instead of laughing with joy, the child is whimpering or screaming in pain.

The article goes on to say that even tucking your child's feet between your legs is still dangerous because the shoe can still get caught on the slide. It seems that the only safe way for a toddler to go down a slide is by him/herself. 

Of course, holding their hand on the way down is okay. But if their foot gets caught they can at least stop themselves to avoid injury.

I've taken my own DS down slides a few times, and this never occurred to me. But I see how it can be dangerous. 

My son LOVES going down slides. We bought a little one for our backyard and he laughs every time he hits the bottom. My legs are about as long as the slide, so there's no chance I'd take him down on my lap.