Twenty Ways to Childproof Your Home

Taking care of your precious babies or youngcoolers and even the fridge where there is a
children can be quite a handful since you have topossibility of your child becoming trapped inside
watch every move that they make. When thereand suffocate.
is a child around, no home is a hundred percent9. In the bathroom, make sure to set the water
safe. Several kids who are below the age of fiveheater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid
are injured in their own homes around the world.scalding and install anti-scalding equipments on
These accidents usually occur when theshower heads and faucets.
supervising adult is doing other things, preoccupied10. Store soaps, alcohol, detergents and other
or unable to provide enough supervision. Keep inhazardous items out of children's reach.
mind that accidents in children usually happen at11. Put nonslip stickers in the bathtub and a rubber
the most unexpected situations and very quickly.guard on bathtub faucet to avoid injury. Prevent
Therefore, it is of vital importance that as aslipping by installing non-skid bathmat on the
parent, you should take measures to protectbathroom floor.
your child from common dangers in the home12. Keep toiletries, medications and cleaning
before you bring a new baby home from thesupplies out of children's reach and install safety
hospital. Make sure to review the safetylocks on the cupboards. Make sure to store all
measures around the home within six months tomedication in original containers.
ensure the child has not outsmarted them.13. Ensure that the playpen, crib and other baby
Ways in childproofing your home:furniture are placed far from windows, heater
1. Use windows stops, window guards of safetyvents, dangling cords, sharp objects and wall
netting to keep kids from falling out the windows.hangings.
Ensure that older children r adult will be able to14. Put bumpers to all sharp corners of your
remove the safety devices as exits in case ofhome and on furniture edges. Remove all glass
emergency.top tables.
2. Eliminate window blind cords with loops to15. Install a fireplace grill and keep matches and
prevent possible strangulation and purchase safetyother fireplace tools out of the reach of children.
tassels to take the place of cord loops.16. Avoid tripping by removing cluttered toys or
3. Install outlet plates and covers to preventthings near the stairs.
electrocution. Keep in mind that small children poke17. Use only crib mattress that fits snugly and
on anything that draws their interest.firmly in to the crib. Avoid putting stuffed
4. Keep little children away from dangerous roomsblankets, comforters, animals and pillows on the
such as the garage, office, kitchens andcrib.
bathrooms by using door locks and knob covers.18. Check out the baby's crib and ensure that the
Put a hook-and-eye latch or slide lock on doorsslats are not more than 2-3/8 inches apart and
out of their reach.the corner posts should be short, which could be
5. Make sure to unplug all unused appliances, mostat least 1/16 inch/2mm unless it is a canopy crib.
particularly the toaster. Keep electrical cords coiledMake sure that a decorative cut-out is smaller
and out of children's reach at all times.than the baby's head.
6. Install smoke detectors in the bedroom floors19. Keep in mind that children could drown with
in the house and the kitchen.just two inches of water, so make sure that you
7. Install safety gates on top of the stairs tokeep them away from wells, ponds, deep puddles
prevent crawling children from falling off the stairsand kiddie pools.
and also install one in the kitchen to keep them20. Inspect children's toys for small and detachable
out of the area when you are not around.parts, which could cause choking. Get rid of
8. Make sure to have safety locks or latches ondangerous or broken toys or those that are
airtight containers and cupboards including chests,heavy enough that could hurt your child.