Housely
Babies and young kids can be a joy, but there are so many hazards around the house that can put them in danger. Whether you’re a new parent-to-be who is trying to prepare for the arrival of your first baby, or you’re a seasoned parent who wants to make your house a bit safer, here’s a guide to childproofing your home.
Bathroom Basics
Little kids love playing around in bathrooms, and they can not only injure themselves in there but create plumbing disasters as well. Use a lid lock on your toilets until your kids are old enough to use the commode without playing inside of it. Also remember to take all cleaners and medicines and store them high enough that your kids can’t gain access. This should be done all around your home to keep your children from accidentally poisoning themselves.
The bathroom is probably the very first room you need to take seriously when protecting your children. Remember: There are chemicals in there. There are medications in there. The shower and bath areas are also extremely dangerous. Here’s a video to help get you started.
Edge Bumpers
Kids frequently slip and fall, especially when they’re infants and toddlers. However, preschoolers and even school age children are prone to falling and knocking themselves around just as a result of playing. In all cases, sharp edges and corners present the risk for injury, and a child who falls and bumps his head on the corner of a table or piece of furniture can be seriously hurt. The best way to guard against this hazard is attaching bumpers to sharp corners. You can typically buy edge protectors and bumpers for your furniture at big box or hardware stores, and some are also available online. For a cheaper solution, try these tips for using pool noodles to soften furniture edges. It’s not the most fashionable fix in the world, but if you’re on a tight budget and your aim is childproofing your home, it will definitely work.
Anchoring Furniture
An astounding number of babies and toddlers are killed or injured each year due to being crushed by furniture. Infants are inquisitive, and when they’re just learning to walk or are in the early stages of walking, they often pull up on furniture in order to stand. Doing so on an unstable piece of furniture can result in tragic consequences. This video from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission details how common these types of accidents are
Use anchor straps on all furniture in your home that has the potential to fall over, including dressers, bookcases, media stands, and file cabinets. If you have a large television that must sit on the floor, it should be stabilized as well. Here a dad shows how to anchor a bookcase — this advice can be used to anchor other pieces of furniture as well.
Mount Your Televisions
If at all possible, mount your TVs to the wall to keep them out of reach of your children and prevent larger sets from falling on top of young kids. One of the best ways to keep kids away from things is to put it out of reach — out of sight, out of mind. Mounting your TVs and electronics higher up out of the way will not only keep your children safe, it will also keep your electronics safe. Have you ever seen what a small child can do to a TV? From pouring juice into a flat screen’s vents to literally painting screens, little kids and most electronics simply don’t mix. If you want to go the DIY route instead of hiring a professional, here’s a way to safely mount your television to the wall.
Get Chord Clutter Under Control
Adults typically don’t think much of the many electronic cords hanging around their homes, but it’s a huge potential hazard. Use zip ties to bundle your cords into thick sections to make it less likely that your child will strange herself, or buy a cord shortener to minimize the risk. Lamp cords are another issue, and not only can these potentially strangle your child, it could result in injury if the lamp falls while your child is pulling its cord. Here’s how to install a cord shortener.
Aside from electronic cords, remember to keep items such as vacuum cleaners hidden away from your kids — the cords from smaller appliances can easily be unraveled.
Covering Outlets
The risk of electrocution among young children is high because they’re so curious. They have no idea that sticking a finger, scissors, or fork into an electrical socket can kill them, so it’s up to you to prevent such a scenario. The most affordable fix is installing outlet plugs in each and every outlet of your home. These are small plastic pieces that safely fit into the outlet’s holes and keep children out. Eventually, your child may figure out how to remove the plugs. If this happens, move on to an electric outlet cover. These devices are also very easy to install, but are more effective at keeping children away from outlet holes. Here’s more information about it:
Securing Doors
One of the most frustrating things that young children do is lock themselves inside rooms. Sometimes it’s by accident, other times they do it on purpose but have no clue how to unlock the door to free themselves. When this happens, parents typically scramble for a screwdriver and rush to get the door opened. Installing door knobs around your home that don’t have locks will prevent this. For doors that absolutely must have locks, installing a level handle lock is a great solution:
Gates
Once your child is able to crawl around using baby gates is best, especially if you have a multi-level home. These devices can seem a bit tricky to install, but the key is buying gates that are long enough and durable enough to stand up to your children:
Not only do gates keep your kids safe, it’s invaluable when you’re cooking or cleaning and want to keep them out of the way.
Stoop to Their Level
Once you’ve followed these childproofing tips, there’s just one last thing to do: get down and make sure nothing was left out. Literally, get down on the floor to your child’s level and trek around your house. Do you see any uncovered outlets or a hanging cord that your child could get to? This is your chance to make sure no stone is left unturned.
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