If you are a parent you know that all it takes is one incident (be it a fall, scratch, bump or bruise) involving your child before you go into overdrive trying to childproof your home. Recently, my 2-year-old discovered how “cool” it was to collect the various battery powered travel clocks we have around our home and hurl them at the picture window. Lovely. The glass breaking wasn’t my main concern (luckily nothing shattered); rather it was the means by which she devised to reach the clocks that had me frantically rearranging furniture following the incident.
It’s a fact–potential dangers lurk around every corner. Homes are loaded with a myriad of possible land mines for little ones. However, all it takes is some common sense, planning, and the foresight to implement a few simple procedures to make your home safe. But, before you run to the store to purchase childproofing products, I suggest you first get down on your hands and knees and survey your home from your child’s vantage point. It’s likely you’ll spot problems you’d normally overlook. Then, block out the comments from others who chide you about your home looking like a mini-prison with all the new latches or guards you install to keep your child safe. Remember: protecting your child should be your top priority– even if it means enduring strange looks from Aunt Hilda.
Electrical Outlets
To prevent the danger of electrical shock install safety plugs which cover outlets when not in use. Also, if you use extension cords, make sure the outlet-part isn’t easily accessible; we hide ours behind heavy furniture.
Doors
Make sure all your doors close tightly and that knobs and handles aren’t easily accessible to your toddler via nearby chairs or other perches. If they are, consider rearranging your furniture or adding a simple hook-and-eye safety latch high up on the door frame.
Drawers
Safety latches which help keep drawers from opening more than a half-inch or so can help prevent finger slamming and keep probing little ones from finding potentially hazardous materials that are stored there.
Stairways and Ledges
Baby gates are in my opinion one of the best investments you can make. Install one at the top of the stairs, and at the bottom (if your child tends to crawl up the stairs when unsupervised) to help prevent falling or sliding.
Toilet
Latches that mount onto the basin can keep the lid closed when it’s not in use (thus, preventing a potential drowning accident). Don’t underestimate the curiosity level of a toddler. I never dreamed my daughter would be interested in the toilet, until I one day I found her peering into one looking for “baby spiders.”
Bathtub
Most parents know to never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, but are you aware of the other mishaps that can take place in a tub even when you are supervising your child’s bath? You can prevent slips and falls by adding non-slip mats on the bottom of the tub and I also highly recommend putting soft-foam spout covers over metal faucets to avoid cuts and contusions.
Medicine Cabinet
Keep the most dangerous medicines at the top of the cabinet or, better yet, in a separate locked container. And keep in mind that to a small child even something “safe,” like vitamins or aspirin, is overdose material.
Stove
Install knob covers on the stove so little ones can’t turn on the appliance. Also, make sure your kitchen doesn’t have climbing aids for your child to gain access to countertops. (I have seen my neighbor’s child crawl along the counter to the burners.)
Cleaning-Supply Closet
Latches and locks will keep the door from opening but, just to be safe, you should also store your cleaning supplies in high, inaccessible spots. Personally, my closet contains enough poison to kill an entire household, imagine what it would do to a single child.
Shelves and TV Stands
It’s a good idea to add brackets that attach a shelf or appliance to a wall (or other stable surface) to prevent objects from falling on a child.