Asking About Firearms Before a Visit
Spot it
A playdate, sleepover, babysitter's or relative's home where you don't know whether there are firearms or how they're stored.
Fix it
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking about guns and safe storage at the homes your child visits, even if you don't have guns in your own home, the same way you'd ask about pets or allergies. AAP's sample question is "Is there an unlocked gun in your house?" If the answer is yes, AAP says you can reconsider letting your child play there, or talk with the other parent about keeping guns unloaded and locked. You can also offer to host instead; that one is our suggestion, not AAP's. AAP also suggests reminding your kids that if they ever come across a gun, they must stay away from it and tell you immediately. This answer stays on your device.
Safer swaps
What actually fixes this — the category to look for, not a brand we were paid to name.
Add 'Is there an unlocked gun in your house?' to the questions you ask before a playdate or sleepoverHabit
Free; AAP's suggestion, asked alongside pets and allergies
Tell your kids: if you ever find a gun, stay away from it and tell an adult right awayHabit
Free; AAP's reminder
No shopping list for this hazard — the fix is a habit, not a purchase.
Related checks
- Firearm Storage — How AAP advises storing firearms at home.