Childproofing for you baby

Childproofing your home is a key step in protecting your children from harm. It is important to childproof your home multiple times. First before your child is born, again once the child is crawling and also once your child is walking. The best way to childproof your home is to get down on your hands and knees so you can see everything from your child’s height. This will help you find hazards you might have otherwise missed. The best way to protect your child is with adult supervision. However, these helpful childproofing tips will keep your children safe and happy inside your home:

Childproofing Your Kitchen:

  1. burner needing childproofingStoves & Ovens – risk of child turning on the burners or knobs. Children can also open ovens and crawl inside and suffocate.
  2. Tip: Install locking latches on stoves and ovens. Install knob covers to prevent children from accessing knobs. Have a stove guard to protect their hands.

  3. Dishwashers – risk of child cutting themselves on any knives, cups, glassware or items in the dishwasher. Children can also open dishwashers and crawl inside and suffocate.
  4. Tip: Install locking latch.

  5. childproofing refrigeratorRefrigerator – risk of choking hazard from any food inside the refrigerator. Children can also open the refrigerator and crawl inside and suffocate.
  6. Tip: Install locking latch.

  7. Cabinets & Drawers – risk of children having access to knives, sharp objects, cleaning supplies, chemicals, poisons and medications, which create a choking hazard.
  8. Tip: Install locking latches. Remove all poisons, chemicals and cleaning supplies from any cabinets your children may have access to and keep them locked away and out of reach.

Childproofing Your Living Room:

    livingroom Childproofing

  1. Plants – risk of children ingesting plants, some of which can cause illness or death. Potting soil, rocks, marbles or other materials can cause choking hazards.
  2. Tip: Do not use any rocks or marbles in your plants. Do not keep any poisonous plants inside your home. Make sure you are aware of the types of plants inside your home and label them accordingly.

  3. Decorative Knick-Knacks – risk of children receiving cuts from broken glass, china or other fragile materials.
  4. Tip: Keep all breakable decorations out of the reach of your children. The best thing is to remove such items until your children are older.

  5. childproofing coffee tableCoffee Tables & End Tables – risk of children injuring themselves on sharp corners.
  6. Tip: Install table cushions on each corner of the table. There are table cushions to go around all edges of the table.

Childproofing Around the House:

home-stairs

  1. Stairs – risk of children suffering injuries from falls.
  2. Tip: Place child safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

  3. Smoke Detectors – risk of burns, severe injury and death.
  4. Tip: Install smoke detectors in each bedroom and every floor of your home. Children and babies are most at risk because they cannot escape fire themselves.

  5. Carbon Monoxide Detectors– risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause memory loss, learning disabilities and neurological problems. Expecting mothers can experience miscarriages or stillbirths.
  6. Tip: Install carbon monoxide detectors.

  7. Water Heaters – risk of burns and death.
  8. Tip: Keep your water heater’s thermostat at 120 degrees or below. Test bathwater before putting your child in the bathtub.

  9. outletElectrical Outlets– risk of electrocution.
  10. Tip: Place outlet covers or tamper-resistant outlet covers on all electrical outlets.

  11. Electrical Cords – risk of injury from pulling cords and having heavy items fall on children. Teething children may also chew on the cords and be electrocuted.
  12. Tips: Install cord bundlers and secure cords to prevent pulling. Install cord shorteners.

  13. Doors – risk of injury to children’s fingers. Children may also be injured if they are able to gain access to the outside or closed off areas of your house.
  14. Tip: Place safety covers on the doors to prevent your child from opening the door. Install doorstops.

  15. Windows – risk of injury from falls.
  16. Childproofing home windowsTip: Lock your windows. Remove any furniture or anything your child could climb on to reach the window. You may want to install window guards.

  17. Toilets – risk of injury and drowning if a child falls in and cannot get out.
  18. Tip: Install a toilet lid lock. Never leave children in the bathroom alone.

  19. Floors– risk of injury from falling on carpet, uneven surfaces and slippery floors. There is also a risk of choking from items dropped on the floor.
  20. Tip: Keep floors clean by vacuuming and sweeping. Pick up any dropped items or food immediately. Keep any pet food out of the reach of children.

Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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