Effective Ways To Childproof Your Home

The home can be one of the top places where young kids get injured since it is where they spend the majority of their time. If you have young children, childproofing your house is the first step to keeping your child safe. The following tips will help you minimize the risk of injuries to your child in your home.

When your child starts to crawl, get down on your hands and knees and look around. Seeing your home from the child’s point of view is the best way to ensure your child’s safety. Getting down to their level will help you spot potential dangers which you would otherwise miss. Determine which drawers or items he can pull down and what spaces he can get into and get hurt.

It is very important to place childproof locks in all the cabinets in your home. This is especially crucial in the kitchen and bathrooms. These are places where knives, cleaning supplies, and medicine are kept. You do not want your child to have access to items that can poison or cut him.

One essential childproof tool is a safety gate. A safety gate can help you contain your child in a particular room. It also prevents access to dangerous stairs and rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens. If you are using a gate for the top of the stairs, make sure to use the type that screws on to the wall. These are more secure than the pressure ones and your child will not be able to move it or open it easily.

Many child injuries are a result of cuts and bruises from sharp edges. You can prevent these types of injuries by covering the sharp edges with bumpers. Cover all the edges on coffee tables and fireplace hearths. Also place bumpers on furniture edges or any other edges which can potentially harm your child.

One of the major causes of death for a child between the age of one and four is drowning. Most drowning deaths in the home occur in the bathtub. Never leave your child unattended in the tub. Babies and toddlers can drown in a few inches of water, therefore; always empty out water buckets after you are done cleaning. A safety latch should also be installed on the toilet lid in order to prevent your child from accidentally falling into the toilet. If your house has a swimming pool, install a gate around it or a cover to prevent your child from falling in and drowning.

If you have blinds or shades in your home, keep the cords out of your child’s reach. These pose a particular hazard to your child since he can become tangled in the cord and strangle. Never place your child’s crib or bed near the window.

Electrical outlets pose a real danger to children if left uncovered. Children can insert things into the outlet and electrocute themselves. Cover outlets with safety caps or outlet protectors.

Childproofing your home is one of the most necessary home improvement projects for your home when you have young children. By implementing the steps giving in this article, you can prevent accidents in your home and create a safe environment for your child.