Your home, the safest place in the world for you actually poses quite a few dangers to babies. You do not have to be freaked out. All homes, are dangerous to very young children, especially those who still find everything around him or her new and interesting. So how do we prevent any accidents from happening in your home? Please read on.
When you’re child-proofing a house, you’ve got to look at the big picture first before breaking it down and tackling rooms one at a time. Months before your baby starts crawling and walking, start on your mission of keeping your baby safe. It would be great if you and your partner can discuss this as you might need more ideas.
If you’re ready now, let’s start child-proofing!
If your house has staircases, you’re going to need gates to keep your baby from climbing up or down. You want to make sure that the gates are high enough that they can’t go over it and that the rails are too close together for them to fit through them.
Cover all electrical outlets with plastic caps. Install smoke detectors in your house. In your basement, make sure you store all hazardous substances in airtight containers on high shelves.
Now we go to the most dangerous part of the house, your kitchen.
Have latches ready for drawers and cupboards that you child might be curious about – especially if they contain things that can harm your baby like knives, forks, dishwashing solutions, and more. Place choking hazards really high. Unplug any kitchen appliance that is not in use and make sure the cord doesn’t dangle. Cover stove-knobs. Place non-skid pads.
Next we visit the living room.
The biggest dangers in the living room are the furniture. Baby might fall from or bump into them. To be safe, place corner guards to any sharp-cornered surface. That includes coffee tables and hearths. Move any furniture away from windows. Babies like climbing and you don’t want to risk your baby falling out of a window. Mount bookshelves so they won’t fall over. Secure the TV on the wall.
Double check the nursery.
By now you have probably arranged the nursery the best way possible. You might still want to check everything first. Is the toy box safe? Open bins are better. Place finger-pinch guards for the hinges on your doors.
Inspect your bathroom.
Are there shampoos, soaps, or any harmful products within baby’s reach? Place them high on shelves. Get a toilet lock as well as latches for the medicine cabinet. Check your water’s temperature and make sure it’s safe for baby. We trust that you know better than leave your child in this room alone. Do not ever think for a second that it’s OK to leave a child in a tub.
These are the basics of childproofing a home. Nothing beats paying attention to your baby to make sure everything is fine, all the time.
