Once your baby starts crawling, or if you have a toddler, things are no longer out of their reach and there are lots of surfaces they could potentially bump up against. There are lots of ways to avoid accidents and prevent injuries.
Go room-to-room and begin child-proofing your home.
The Kitchen
Every parent knows how child locks work for door knobs and cabinetry, but there are also locks for appliances like the fridge, stove, and dishwasher. Dishwashers are especially a safety hazard because they are down so low and easy to open where there are knives and other sharp utensils inside. The oven door is easy to open too, so make sure the door is locked. Take these precautions as well:
- Gate the kitchen off
- Push things away from the edge of the counter
- Turn pots and pan handles inwards
Unplug things like the kettle and toaster when not in use- Keep your knife holder in a higher cabinet
- Make sure fridge magnets are out of reach
- Buy stove guards for knobs and burners
- Do not leave stool out for them to climb on
- Keep any medications higher up
- Buy non-slip rugs
- Move any plastic bags to a higher cabinet
- Keep child in high chair and make sure they are securely strapped in
The Dining Room
Make sure the edges of your dining table have bumper guards on them to try and prevent any injury. Make sure cutlery and glass or porcelain plates, mugs and bowls are pushed away from the edge and towards the middle of the table. Apply covers to any outlets around the room, and make sure the blinds cord is out of reach or cut shorter.
The Living Room
The living room is the gathering place for the family, so your baby/toddler will most likely be spending a lot of time playing there. Making sure things like power bars and outlets are essential, as well as:
- Covering cords/cables with tape
- Keeping candles and other décor/knickknacks out of reach
- Blinds cords are out of reach
- Cover the fireplace up
- Add edge bumpers to end/coffee tables
- Keep all their unused toys stored away in a bin or basket
- Make sure bookshelves are secure (if they decide to try climbing
- Store batteries or things like matches or a lighter out of reach
- Picture frames are out of reach or hung on the walls instead
- Keep plants higher up/out of reach
- If T.V is not mounted, make sure table is secure
- Install window guards
The Bathroom
The bathroom can be a dangerous place for your toddler to explore, especially if they turn on the hot water or try to get into cabinet with cleaning supplies. Make sure you have things like:
- A gate to block off the room
- Non-slip mats on the floor and in the tub
- Door locks on the cabinets
- Store cleaning supplies and hairdryers, curlers, straighteners and medication out of reach
- Always leave hairdryer and straighteners unplugged and away from edge of counter
- Add a toilet lock
- Put locks on faucets
The Bedroom
Your baby or toddler will spend a lot of time in their bedroom playing as well, so making sure things like toys and other hazards are secure are important. Set up safety features such as:
- Bins or baskets for toys so they are not left on the floor
- Cover outlets and hide any cords
- Add thick carpets (and non-slip)
- Put a guard on the window or invest in cordless blinds
- Buy finger-pinching guards
- Put bumpers on dressers or bedtables
- Make sure mobiles above the crib are out of reach
- Make sure lamps are higher up and out of reach as well
There are lots of ways to child-poof your home so you do not have to worry about unnecessary bumps and bruises. Lock guards, finger-pinching guards, and safety gates will be your best friend!
