Babyproofing Your Home – How and Why

Table of Contents

1. Remove Electric Hazards
2. Remove Fragile Items From Your Home
3. Remove Toxic and Poisonous Items
4. Prevent Access to Windows
5. Open Accessible Doors and Drawers
6. Prevent Access to Stairs and Balconies
7. Remove Hazardous Objects From the Bathroom
8. Adjust the Settings On Your Hot Water Heater
9. Install a Baby Monitor
10. Make Sure Your Child Is Safe Around Pets
11. Create Safe Playing Spots for Kids
12. Watch Out for Sharp Edges and Corners
13. Why Should You Babyproof Your Home?
14. Baby Safety Is a Conscious Effort

Babyproofing: As a parent, your child’s safety is your number one priority. You have to watch out for all kinds of dangers in your house and ensure your children don’t have access to anything they shouldn’t.

Making sure your home is hazard-free brings peace of mind and helps raise a happy, healthy child. Baby-proofing is not just for a child’s safety, but it can also make your life easier.

The first step in babyproofing your home is understanding the dangers your child is exposed to. Here are some tips to help you keep your baby safe by childproofing your home.

Remove Electric Hazards

Electricity is a serious threat to children, even more so if they crawl around the house looking for items to play with to satisfy their curiosity. Make sure cords are out of their reach, and always unplug appliances before you leave the room or go to sleep.

Talk to the experts at a reputable company such as Safe Electric LLC on how to best babyproof your home. Some considerations to add to your home are socket protectors and covers, plug protectors, and cord shorteners.

Remove Fragile Items From Your Home

Fragile items such as pottery and glassware are hazardous when they fall. Keep them away from babies and toddlers if you must have them. This also goes for sharp objects such as knives and scissors. To ensure everything is in its proper place, keep a neat and orderly home and always put things away immediately after you are finished with them.

Remove Toxic and Poisonous Items

One major cause of illness and death in children is poisoning. Always keep all cleaning supplies, poisons, medications, and alcohol in a secure cabinet that your child can’t reach. It’s also a good idea to buy medicines in childproof containers. Always request special safety caps for children’s medication and follow the recommended dosage.

Prevent Access to Windows

Open windows can be a danger to young children. They can crawl or fall out of them, or get tangled in the window blind cords. Install special locks that keep windows locked in place and invest in cordless blinds.

If you have a house with balconies and porches, cordon off dangerous areas with railings and cover hazardous parts of the porch flooring. Additionally, keep curtain cords out of the children’s reach as they pose a suffocation hazard to young children.

Open Accessible Doors and Drawers

Small openings, such as those found in cupboards, can be a nasty surprise for kids who crawl into them. Not only might your child get trapped if the door closes, but they may cut themselves on exposed sharp edges of objects inside. You can install childproof locks or safety latches on the doors to keep the drawers closed.

Prevent Access to Stairs and Balconies

Stairs are a significant hazard in the house because they can lead to severe injuries. They are also an easy way for kids to get around without your knowledge, so install a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs and make sure all bedrooms have doors that close and lock.

Remember, balconies and raised landings pose a danger too, such as falling and drowning. Pay attention to these areas as well when baby-proofing your property.

Remove Hazardous Objects From the Bathroom

Your bathroom has all sorts of items that can be hazardous to small kids. These include toothbrushes with small parts, razors, and scissors, makeup with sharp edges, even bottles of shampoo or bubble bath that young children might mistake for juice. Keep all these items out of kids’ reach, and make sure your bathroom cabinet is childproof to prevent accidents.

Adjust the Settings On Your Hot Water Heater

As children learn to walk, they like playing with knobs, turning them on and off. This includes the hot water taps in your bathroom.

Keep these out of reach by adding covers, if possible. For added protection, set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less to reduce the risk of scalding. However, keep the bathroom doors locked at all times as well.

Install a Baby Monitor

A simple baby monitor will allow you to keep an ear on your child even when you are not in the same room. The device is also invaluable when leaving the child with a babysitter while running errands.

A good monitor should have a solid wireless signal. Make sure it also has two-way communication capabilities, enabling you to hear and speak with your child.

Make Sure Your Child Is Safe Around Pets

Dogs, cats, and other pets can be pretty dangerous around children because they might not realize how fragile kids are. Train animals in your home to be gentle with children, and do not leave a child alone with a pet, no matter how docile the animal seems. This is significantly more critical when they’re just getting to know each other.

Create Safe Playing Spots for Kids

While children should never play in the street, it’s important to find safe places for them to play inside your home or in the yard. A playpen offers a safe spot for very young children, while a sandbox or child-sized table and chairs are suitable for children up to age 3.

Also, make sure the play items are age-appropriate. Watch out for tiny legos, marbles, and dolls with removable parts that could pose choking hazards to young children. Room dividers can provide added separation between rooms with dangerous items or pets that could harm kids.

Watch Out for Sharp Edges and Corners

Bumping into sharp objects can lead to cuts and scrapes. Cover sharp edges with bumpers or padding. Tables and chairs are the most common culprits. While at it, remember to get rid of tablecloths. Kids love pulling on them, causing accidents as the table contents could fall on the child.

Why Should You Babyproof Your Home?

Safety is the primary reason to go the extra mile in ensuring your home is safe for kids. However, you will also enjoy peace of mind knowing that your child is playing in a secure environment while you concentrate on tasks that need your attention.

Remember, accidents are unavoidable, but preparation minimizes the dangers surrounding your child’s activities.

Baby Safety Is a Conscious Effort

Baby-proofing your home might not be easy, but it should be in your mind at all times. Make sure everyone else around the child understands the need to be proactive. The good thing is, the risks reduce as the child grows older.

Thank you for reading!