Don't do it.

Don't let your 21 month old play with the vacuum cleaner, not even for the brief moment that it takes you to run to the bathroom, not even if the bathroom is located a few steps from where the 21 month old is "helping." Don't do it even if you think she is adorable because she wants to help mommy and is only wearing Mary Janes and a diaper.

I did it and you know what happened? The cord got sucked into the vacuum cleaner; it is now in two pieces and there's a burnt spot on my carpet.

Please, learn from my mistakes.