Children are naturally inquisitive, and as soon as they’re able, they’ll want to explore everything. Unfortunately, this innocent curiosity can land them in a lot of trouble. To young children, chemicals under the sink, open toilets, electrical outlets, and sharp objects are interesting, and they’re unaware of the hazards. During this period in your child’s development, it’s important to eliminate hazards wherever possible. Here is everything you need for a child-proof home.
Cabinet and Drawer Locks
At least one cabinet and drawer in every household is used to store potentially dangerous items, like knives or cleaning products. Because these locations are often within easy reach of the little ones, it’s recommended to secure them with childproof locks. These are designed to be too complicated for young children to figure out, but easy for you to operate. Find some plastic or metal options for securing your most dangerous cabinets.
Window Treatments
Be aware of the curtains and blinds installed in your home. Long draperies are often used by children learning to walk and stand, but if pulled too hard can be a dangerous hazard in your home. Tie up long curtains, and make sure they won’t be a temptation in playrooms or living rooms. Shutters near cribs and beds should be secure so kids don’t knock them down or get pinched in them. The best shutters for your home at this early stage might be thicker wooden slats which won’t be as flimsy, or easy to pull off.
Toilet Lid Locks
To kids, toilets are a water-filled playground. These can also present a serious drowning risk, or exposure to dangerous disease. Like any other liquid-filled container, your home’s toilets should be closed up tightly to prevent unwanted access. Toilet lid locks are a practical and inexpensive way to do achieve this.
Outlet Covers
Outlets are an appealing target for inquisitive kids, and 6,000 children fall victim to electric shock every year. Many of these cases involve foreign objects being poked into the socket’s holes. Adding plastic covers to all of your household outlets will help discourage this activity. Once you remove a plug, be sure to lock it up again, and make sure your plugged in devices are hidden from easy access or view so they don’t get yanked out and played with.
Anti-Scalding Devices
At 140 degrees, hot water takes only a few seconds to inflict dangerous third-degree burns. Although these are typically only extremely painful injuries, in some cases, they can be extensive enough to become life-threatening. It’s strongly recommended you install anti-scalding devices on your home’s hot water sources. You can go a step further in protecting your child from scalding by turning your water heater down to 120 degrees maximum.
GFCI Outlets
Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets are recommended for any household, but especially those with small children. These devices instantly cut off the flow of electricity if an appliance malfunctions, or makes contact with water. These should be installed in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or any other location near a water source.
Safety Gates
These are essential if you want to keep your kids out of dangerous areas. Stairs present a significant risk to young children, who can easily fall down them, and be injured or killed. Safety gates provide an insurmountable barrier between your child and a nasty tumble. These devices can also be used to prevent children from entering certain rooms, such as the kitchen while you’re cooking.
Children who are too young to be aware of threats to their safety can easily become injured or worse. By using these devices throughout your home, you can rest easier knowing your children are protected.