Childproofing a home is essential for creating a safe environment as your child grows and explores. By taking proactive steps, such as installing safety gates and eliminating potential hazards, parents can help prevent accidents and provide a secure space for their little ones. With a few thoughtful adjustments, your home can be a safe haven for a curious child.
Use safety gates
Even before your baby crawls, install safety gates to match your home and protect curious children from harm. Hardware mounted gates should be installed at the top and bottom of the stairs.
Prepare for bedtime
Remove all soft, fluffy and loose bedding from the baby’s sleep area. This includes pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads, sleep positioners, sheepskins, stuffed toys and other soft products.
Be mindful of plants
Choose decorative plants that are nontoxic. Common household plants can often cause serious sickness if ingested by a child.
Update your exterior
Place a welcome mat outside your home or apartment. Pesticides and other toxins may be carried inside on the soles of people’s shoes.
Keep things tidy
Storage bins offer a great way to store toys and baby supplies, preventing anyone from tripping.
Get creative
Hand paint electrical outlet covers to blend into walls. Install door knob covers as a means to keep little hands from opening doors.
Lock it up
Put locks on anything and everything that can open.
Be cautious of choking hazards
Be vigilant about coins, marbles, keys, jewelry, paper clips, water bottle tops, safety pins, removable rubber tips on doorstops, jeweled decorations on children’s clothing, crayons, and hard and round foods.
Check out your furniture
Use angle braces or anchors to secure large furniture to the wall. Place TVs, VCRs and stereo systems on lower furniture, as far back as possible.
Hot water
Set hot water heaters no higher than 120 degrees F. A lower water temperature reduces the chance of scald burns. Munchkin’s White Hot Super Safety Bath Ducky can help you manage the temperature of water in your children’s baths.
With the end of Daylight Saving Time coming up in November, everyone's looking forward to that "extra" hour of sleep we've all been hearing about.
Many accidents can be prevented by taking steps to childproof your home before your baby even begins to start crawling around.
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