Childproofing Your Home: Top Tips For Parents
The well-being of your child is of paramount importance. In order to provide a safe sanctuary for your child, child your home is a vital part of the process. This is especially true as your child begins to crawl and cruise around the house. Of course, it won't stop every bump and trip - but lots of cuddles and childrens ice packs can help with that - but the following will help to protect your child from avoidable accidents and injuries.
1. Use safety gates
Putting up barriers makes it more difficult for children to gain access to potentially dangerous areas such as staircases, fireplaces, and toilets. When you are installing a stairway barrier, make sure to install gates at both the top and bottom of the stairwell. You may want to consider setting the lower gate a few steps away from the bottom so that your child can practice climbing stairs as soon as he or she begins to crawl.
In addition, even if you feel that you are able to safely restrict your little one’s movement, don’t take any chances, as they can be very resourceful. You should have a secondary level of security like a STOREMASTA chemical cabinet in which to store any flammable, corrosive or toxic household chemicals that are commonplace these days.
2. Put anything breakable or delicate out of their reach
That lovely ornament or vase? Move it to as high a shelf as possible, or put it away until they are older. This will save both your child and your possessions. Don’t forget the plants too - kids try to eat anything, including the leaves of plants!
3. Lock cupboards and cabinets
If you have any drawers or cabinets in your home that hold potentially dangerous or poisonous materials, such as cleaning chemicals, medicines sharp utensils, tools, or alcohol you should consider installing safety locks on them. Ideally, get some that automatically lock when the door is shut. It is easy to forget when you are sleep deprived or have a whining child under your feet.
4. Cover sockets
Make sure your electrical sockets are covered so that your child does not discover that his or her fingers or something else might fit through the openings in the covers. It may be worth considering replacing the normal switch plates with ones that automatically fall back to cover outlets when they are not in use.
5. Make sure there are no loose or hanging wires
Strangulation threats include wires and cords, so when baby-proofing your home, make sure to tie them up and keep them out of reach from curious hands. Do not forget about the cords that are attached to your window treatments. Shorten them, cover the ends with plastic wrap, or use a tie-down device to hold them to the wall. Make certain that your baby's cot is set at a safe distance from these cords as well!
6. Make sure furniture is secure
As your baby learns to crawl and stand, he or she may attempt to hold on to or climb onto the furniture to support themselves. Fix bookshelves, dressers, floor lamps, and television cabinets to the floor or to the wall with nails or screws. The products that protect toddlers, such as furniture brackets and fasteners, are available at any baby or home improvement store. You will also want to use child-proofing bumpers to protect any sharp corners in your home.