All the Little Things About Child Proofing You Thought You Knew
It would seem that childproofing the home would be mostly common
sense, and it is. However, there are so many different scenarios to
consider, and they change as the child grows, that double checking
yourself and your home could never be a waste of time. So take a moment
and read through the information provided here. These are tried and true
guidelines, and they meet with the current government standards
overseeing such manners.
 There are several areas of concern where the word “forbidden” is not
too strong to use. Though you may feel it is all a bit dramatic, the
fact is that household accidents claim the lives of children every day.
Here is a list of items that are never safe in any circumstance.
- Knives, heavy pots and pans, breakables, cleaners, medications,
vitamins, and personal care items should be put up high and locked,
if possible.
- Areas that are not safe should be off limits and have a baby
gate installed to insure no entry. Closing doors and securing with a
lock at the top is a no cost way to add security. Latches can be
used on cupboards and drawers that may hold scissors, for instance.
- Decide how you will protect young children from floor vents and
radiators. It is possible to block access and to cover radiators.
- Furniture poses its own sort of danger with sharp corners and
edges. Keep areas free of clutter so the child does not trip or get
tangled up in it. Corner and edge guards can be purchased and used.
If you have any furniture with glass tops, either move these to a
forbidden area or, better yet, replace then with something safer and
remove from your house, altogether. Furniture that is not stable,
such as bookcases and hall desks should be secured to the wall.
Babies love to pull up on the furniture! Place your television on a
low piece of furniture and push back as far as possible. Teach baby
that it is not a toy to play with. Lamps that can be placed behind
furniture are convenient, yet no threat to baby.
- Poison-proof your home by the following method: Look in every
room of the house and gather all the toxic items in one central
location. You can then decide if they should be stored together or
organized in another manner, but all should have a place to be kept
that is locked away from children.
- Don’t take your child’s toys for granted. Make sure that they
are well made and do not come apart. Do not buy younger children
toys in anticipation of them growing older, as you will probably
give them too soon. If a toy is heavy enough to hurt your child if
it fell on him/her, then it is not right for your child’s age or
size.
Your life changes when children come along. You must be ready to
adapt your world to them, not the other way around!
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