Child Proofing Made Easy
As your baby begins to crawl, so should you! The number one cause of
death in Australian children is injuries caused by accidents in the
home. That is a very startling statistic, and one that creates hope as
accidents in the home can be prevented and, possibly, permanently
eliminated if you are always observing and accessing the environment in
which children are raised. This where getting on your hands and knees
come in. You will, all of sudden, be transported to your baby’s eye on
its world.
 Now, that you are down on baby’s level, what do you see? Anything
that little hands could grab will go directly to their mouths, and
anything sharp can cut and injure if fallen or bumped into. The
electrical outlets should be considered, especially if they are low on
the wall. Very cheap inserts into those not being used will remedy that,
and it is never too early to point and say “no” to baby. They are like
sponges. They soak up knowledge wonderfully so make eye contact with
baby, and then look at the electrical outlets, and say “no” firmly. This
is not to replace the plastic insert, but to reinforce that this is not
an area baby needs to explore.
Electrical cords should never be in baby’s path. Re-arrange items in
order to remove any cords from where baby may travel. Most family time
with baby is spent in the lounge room. Creating the safe environment in
which baby can explore and enjoy will enable you to also enjoy these
special moments with your family. Examine the end tables and other
pieces of furniture in this particular room; do feel sharp edges and
corners? If so, these should be padded to avoid a mishap. If the lounge
room includes a fire place or heater, be certain to have up a necessary
guard when in use. This is another learning moment for baby when you
reinforce the word “no”.
Blind cords on shades pose a choking hazard. Consider shortening these
cords well above babies reach. There are devices known to shorten the
cord if you do not wish to cut and adjust. If they must be kept long,
run the cord behind a large piece of furniture that baby cannot access.
 Windows should be kept locked at all times. These areas should not be
considered for play areas, so utilize furniture around windows. Falls do
happen and, tragically, the statistics are not in the babies’ favor.
Furniture that is not stable that can be rocked should be removed as
baby may try to pull up on furniture, pulling it down on itself.
Electronics should be stored away from baby, as they love to stick
their little hands into anything that may have an opening. Fingers could
get stuck or cut. This is the time to consider any household pets. Are
they child friendly? Do different arrangements need to be made in
regards to the family pet? Prevention is the key to baby safety!
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