Parenting Journals

Childproofing Your Home

by Alicia Kenny

Having babies and small children in your home means life, fun, noise and safety, safety, safety. Normal, everyday items can be dangerous and even life-threatening to them, so you’ll want to make any necessary changes to your living environment to ensure the safety of your little ones. From room-to-room there are different adjustments to be made. Here are a few tips to get you started:

The Nursery / Child’s Room

1. Use a baby monitor to track Baby’s activities while you’re in another room.
2. Wrap curtain cords and Venetian blind cords and put them out of reach as they can pose a strangulation hazard.
3. Use a changing table with high sides and a safety trap. Never leave Baby alone on the table.
4. Cover all unused electrical outlets with clear, plastic covers.
5. Check toys for sharp edges and detachable pieces that could be a choking hazard.

The Kitchen

1. While preparing food, keep babies and toddlers in a playpen within your sight, but far from the oven and hot foods.
2. Keep electrical appliances out-of-reach.
3. Keep sharp knives locked up or out-of-reach.
4. Put childproof latches on kitchen cabinets.
5. Keep plastic bags and plastic wrap out of children’s’ reach.
6. Don’t heat baby bottles or formula in the microwave as the center of the liquid can be scalding while other parts are cool to the touch.
7. Remove tablecloths as children can pull the cloth and get hurt by objects that fall off of the table.
8. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet or out of children’s’ reach.
9. Keep a tight lid on your trash can to keep little hands from finding sharp objects or other potentially harmful items.
10. Keep your dishwasher latched when not in use.
11. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
12. Make sure your smoke extinguishers are in good working order.

Living Areas

1. Cover all electrical outlets with clear, plastic childproof covers.
2. Use childproof screens around your heaters, fireplaces and woodstoves.
3. Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
4. Cover trash containers securely.
5. Keep drapes, curtain cords and Venetian blind cords out-of-reach.
6. Don’t use paint that contains mercury or lead as chipped paint could tempt little ones to taste this poisonous material.
7. Keep ash trays with ashes out of children’s’ reach.
8. Keep household plants out-of-reach to avoid babies and children grabbing and eating potentially poisonous leaves.
9. Make sure that carpets and rugs have non-skid backing.

The Bathroom

1. Keep medications, cleansers, toiletries, razor blades and other hazardous items out-of-reach in locked cabinets.
2. Use non-slip mats in tub and shower areas.
3. Bathe young children and babies in water that feels warm, not hot.
4. Always supervise children under six in the bathtub.
5. Keep electrical appliances away from water sources and out-of-reach.
6. Put toilet lid locks on all toilets if you have a child under three.
7. Set your hot water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent scalding.
8. Keep bathroom doors closed.

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