Parenting:
How to child proof your home in one day
Parents and
caregivers want to provide a safe place for their children to live and play but too often
child proofing these areas gets put off. The good news is that child proofing is not
difficult and can easily be completed in one day.
On your first visit to the store you will likely be overwhelmed by all of the products on
the market designed to child proof or baby proof your home. Is every corner and crevice a
danger?
You can't child
proof the world, but as you continue to teach your children about safety you may find it
useful to reduce the risk of injury in the home where the child is spending most of the
time.
Some child
proofing requires no devices, just common sense. Other areas definitely require the use of
a child proofing device. Not all children are the same. If you feel a certain product
would help protect your child from a situation they are more likely to get into, you may
consider adding that to your arsenal as well.
Here are some basic steps for
child proofing your home.
Move Cleaners, Medicine and Other Poisons
You need to move any
poisonous substance out of the reach of your children. A common mistake? Keeping cleaners
under the kitchen sink or bath products on the ledge of the tub. While you might think
that child resistant caps will protect your children, you should be aware that the
requirements for a child resistant package may mean that at least 80-85% of children
couldn't open them. That means your child might. All poisons and medicines should be
stored in a high cupboard or locked area.
Block
Stairways
Not surprisingly falls are one of the biggest causes of injury to
young children. Stairways are particularly dangerous and should always be properly gated.
Never use pressure mounted gates at the tops of stairs since your child may be able to put
enough pressure on them to give way.
Despite having a gate it is important for parents to keep a close
eye on children around staircases.
Keep Windows Safe
Lock windows or use guards to prevent them from opening too far.
Screens will not keep your child from falling out of a window.
Make sure that blind cords are out of reach and the beds, cribs
and other furniture are moved away from windows where a child could climb up and reach.
You'd be surprised what they are capable of.
Outlets, Drawers and Cupboards
There is a huge assortment of products aimed at protecting your
children's fingers from being caught in door hinges, slammed in drawers or by closing
cupboard doors. Test out several products in a children's store that demonstrates how
different products are used. The main purpose should be to prevent an accident but if you
find the products difficult to use you may end up not using them at all.
Small Toys and Other Choking Hazards
Another major cause of hospital visits for small children is
choking. Small toys, batteries, buttons, coins and other objects go straight into the
mouths of babies and toddlers (and even some preschoolers). Prevention is the key. If you
have older children they should be taught to keep small toys out of the reach of younger
children. Keep a keen eye for objects on the floor where your baby is present.
Monitor New Dangers
You will need to be constantly aware of what your child can
get access to. As you child grows and develops they may suddenly be capable of reaching or
pulling down items you didn't think of.
Don't forget that most child proofing devices you can buy
are temporary solutions to prevent the most disastrous accidents. Your children should
also be taught how to behave and where to be especially careful. After all, your children
will likely be in many homes that are not child proofed
