Childproof Home Safety Tips
When it comes to childproofing your home, you need to take every precaution possible to protect your baby from any potential hazards. Here are some of the dangers you should watch out for and some tips to help you keep your child safe.
Electrocution and Shocks
Cords and outlets look inviting to small children, but they’re also very dangerous. Protect your child from any potential shocks by:
Covering your outlets with sliding covers that screw into the wall
Bundling and hiding electrical cords with ties or safety covers
Storing electrical appliances like kettles, hairdryers, and curling irons out of reach
Falls
As soon as children become mobile, they’re in danger of falling down and getting hurt. To keep your baby from taking a tumble, you should take these precautions:
Secure stairways with baby gates
Cover your railings and banisters with protective Plexiglas
Keep any furniture that your child could potentially climb on away from windows
Use window guards and keep your windows locked when not in use
Bumps and Bruises
As soon as your child starts using your furniture to pull themselves up to their feet, they’re at risk for all kinds of bumps and bruises. To protect your baby, you should:
Put safety bumpers on coffee tables, television stands, and window ledges
Mount cabinets and shelves to the wall or secure them with safety straps
Store flat screen televisions in a cabinet or mount them on the wall
Burns and Scalds
Babies have very delicate skin that burns and scalds easily. To keep your child safe from burns in the bathroom, you should:
Set your hot water tank below 50 degrees Celsius
At bath time, always run the cold water first, and then heat it up with warm water
Attach anti-scald devices to your faucet and showerhead
Kitchens are another culprit when it comes to burns and scalds. To keep your little one safe whenever they’re in the kitchen, it’s a good idea to:
Secure your stove knobs with stove knob guards
Use oven guards on your oven door
Suffocation and Strangulation
Young children like to play with everything, but some of those things can be dangerous. To keep your child safe from strangulation or suffocation, you should take the following precautions:
Avoid putting baby bumpers or pillows inside the crib
Remove mobiles from the crib as soon as your child can sit up on his or her own
Tie knots in plastic bags before you store them
Poisoning
Household items that we take for granted can sometimes poison a small child. To keep your baby safe you should:
Secure your cupboard doors with safety latches
Keep household cleaners up high and out of reach
Move plants to high shelves where children can’t reach them
Drowning
Small children love playing with water. To keep your child safe from potential drowning hazards you should:
Keep all mop buckets, tubs, and sinks empty when not in use
Put a safety latch on your toilet to keep the lid closed
Use a bath seat to help secure your child at bath time
Avoid leaving your child unattended in the tub
The absolute best way to keep your child safe is to supervise them at all times. While taking the time to childproof your home can help protect your little one, there is no substitute for a parents watchful eye. By keeping a close eye on your child and putting these tips into action, you can keep your child safe from any household dangers.