Baby proofing the home!

Many of us start revamping our homes even before the baby arrives. To make the place attractive, we buy frames and toys but what we forget is to make our home safe for the child. Preparedness is essential and incidents such as fire, falls, burns, drowning, choking and poisoning need to be taken into consideration if you have a child or are expecting one.

Following child-proofing procedures will help you avoid such dangers.

1. Get down on your knees and look around from your child’s point of view. Check what’s within reach or could be as months pass (from crawling to toddling). Note what can be picked, pushed, pulled or opened and take appropriate steps. Anchor flat-screen TVs so that they don’t fall if pulled or leaned on and keep night lamps and vases far out of reach.
2. Keep furniture away from windows as kids love to climb on windowsills. In case your windows have blinds, make sure the strings are coiled high up to avoid strangulation. Windows must have latches beyond the reach of young children.
3. Secure shelves and wall mounts with extra brackets and store heavier items in lower shelves.
4. Get grills and gates made that restrict entry through doors or to stairs, storerooms and fireplaces.
5. Use corner and edge guards over tables, cabinets etc.
6. Keep stoves and kitchen appliances out of kid’s reach. Hot vessels, knives and peelers should have designated areas. Avoid carrying hot food and drink around the house.
7. Locked bathrooms help avoid accidental drowning in bathtubs, buckets and toilets. Make toilet lids difficult to open by placing a laundry basket over it as toddlers have heavier upper bodies and tend to lean and topple easily.
8. Kids may topple or skid over door mats and bathroom mats, be specific while choosing one if you need to.
9. Toiletries including hand sanitizers should be kept away from their reach.
10. Outdated medicines must be flushed down the toilet while storing the others in their original containers and away from children rather than stocking them in kitchens or bathrooms.
11. Kids should not have access to cleaners, detergents, fertilizers and pesticides as such items could be very poisonous.
12. Refrain from keeping toxic plants at home.
13. Using stickers such as “NO-NO” or “BAD” on containers storing harmful substances works well with kids.
14. Electrical appliances such as iron, kettle, griller, hairdryer should be unplugged and kept away from accidental water spillage.
15. Cover electrical outlets with protectors or safety caps as kids tend to explore them with their tiny fingers. Dangling wires must be concealed and kept away from their eyesight.
16. As a habit, keep a watchful eye for small objects, coins, paperclips, beads or anything that your child may choke on. Be extra careful with guests around.
17. Teach your child the importance of fire safety and precautions. Installing smoke alarms is essential in detecting fires while a regularly serviced fire extinguisher shall save your family from disastrous consequences.
18. Always be prepared for an emergency by keeping all relevant phone numbers and contact details handy along with a First-Aid kit.

Child proofing your home is an ongoing process and has to be updated every few months yet it is essential to supervise your child at all times as no childproofing method can be 100% effective.

Image courtesy – www.sheknows.com