Everywhere you look in your home there are potential threats to the health and safety of children. In addition, there are plenty of other things that may not be dangerous but still a nuisance if junior gets into them. So how do you keep the kids safe and protect your valuable things? My preferred method is to home-proof your child, but that’s another blog for another day. Today we’ll discuss the opposite approach, child-proofing your home.
Child-proofing the home requires imagination and thinking like a child. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the house for twenty minutes or so. Make note of things that would be in the grasp of a child at that level. And remember one key thing: the laws of human nature dictate that what is off limits to a child is the very thing that will attract his attention. A child will also be drawn to color, lights, smells, and large shapes, and he’ll stick anything in his mouth that will fit.
Household chemicals should be stored on shelves above the child’s reach, preferably at four feet or higher. Putting them in a locked cabinet is another way to go. You can find inexpensive cabinet locks at your local home renovation outlet. Use the same thinking for medicine and health care products. Keep your medicines in a medicine cabinet above the sink. Soaps, shampoos, makeup, and other personal care products should be stored on the higher shelves of the linen or bathroom closet.
Plastic caps for unused electrical outlets are popular and cheap. They can be purchased at most retail outlets that sell general merchandise; department stores, drug stores, convenience stores, and home renovation outlets all carry them. They simply fit into the outlet just like an electrical plug and are easily removed when the outlet is needed.
For the young ones just learning to walk, it’s a good idea to either have furniture with no sharp corners or install corner covers. Corner covers are rounded plastic moldings that can be put on the corners of coffee tables or other furniture pieces. They won’t protect against all injury if a child falls against them, but they will reduce the likelihood of severe injury.
Another thing to consider with toddlers is clutter and tripping hazards. Toddlers need plenty of room to walk and run, so keep clutter to a minimum. Keep things that don’t belong on the floor off the floor. This might require some extra diligent housekeeping, but it will make life safer for the kids. The list of ways to child-proof your home is endless. Keep your eyes open for potential danger zones and address them as needed.
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