From the time they can crawl, children love to explore and get themselves into situations they shouldn’t. As such, having a kid in the house calls for extensive safety measures to be put in place. While some may seem obvious — such as a fence around a pool or smoke detectors — other potential household hazards might go unnoticed.
To help, here are four common areas of concern with lots of childproofing tips for new parents or those looking to host little ones in their homes.
Keep Hazards Out of Reach
First, certain dangers must be locked away from prying fingers. Any household cleaners, lawn and garden chemicals, medication, alcohol containers, and firearms must be kept under lock and key. Begin by securing cabinets and drawers throughout the house with childproof locks to prevent small children from accessing these items and others like them. Such locks could be found in home improvement stores, your local big chain store’s baby section, and various online venues.
With firearms, it’s recommended to store them unloaded and separately from ammunition in a gun safe or lockbox. Special care should also be taken to ensure any knives, scissors, and other sharp objects are inaccessible. One area that frequently goes overlooked is a purse. More often than not, a purse contains medication, choking hazards, or makeup that could be dangerous if ingested. Store this accessory on a hook or high shelf that little ones cannot reach.
Remember, childproof doesn’t mean foolproof. It’s possible for doors to accidentally be left open or for children to outsmart the locks. Remember the whole household the importance of minding the drawers and cabinet doors.
Secure the Doors & Windows
Speaking of doors, there are a lot of steps you could take to secure each entryway to the outdoors or restricted areas of the house, for instance, mounting doorknob covers for a variety of handle types, employing safety gates, and installing additional childproofing devices on exterior doors — such as tension bars. Flip locks are designed for sliding glass doors and feature an adhesive strip, making installation and later removal a breeze.
Measures also need to be taken to secure the windows. From setting up window guards and wedges on the inside to safety netting on the outside, the possibilities go on and on. Start by ensuring the windows have reliable locks. They can’t be opened wide enough for a child to crawl through and do not have furniture underneath that kids could use to climb closer to the glass. You’ll also want to be mindful of the window treatments because the cords can be unsafe.
Employ Strict Water Safety Measures
As mentioned above, installing a fence — generally four feet high and self-closing — is essential around the pool, but there are other safety measures to put in place regarding water. For the pool specifically, you could utilize a power safety cover, alarms on the doors leading to an outdoor body of water, or even a pool alarm with motion detector sensors that trigger when a child or pet falls into the water.
Other measures could be an anti-scald device for faucets and shower heads. This help prevents burns from hot water and can set the maximum temperature for your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, keep any buckets containing water or liquids tightly closed and out of reach, as these have proven perilous for toddlers.
Cover All Your Bases
Investing in protective coverings around the house is key. A few areas parents want to cover include:
- Electrical outlets
- Radiators and hot pipes
- Light fixtures
- Sharp corners
Kids Will Be Kids
Although we may want to, keeping kids away from every possible harm is impossible. However, with common sense, preparation, and the right tools, you can do your part to prevent household accidents. As they grow and learn, keep an eye out for new dangers and discuss proper safety procedures with your little ones.
Author bio: Dave Cook is the official spokesperson for Feldco and has been with the company for more than 20 years. He has served many roles and has been pivotal in Feldco’s growth and expansion. Cook is a home improvement expert and loves helping people transform their homes.
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