Today’s post is all about how to childproof your home, something I’ve left behind but I know lots of you haven’t….
Being a new parent is scary. Whether it’s your first or seventh, there are always surprises around the corner. One huge headache if you’re a parent is knowing how to childproof your home. It’s all about learning from experience. For example; if your little one is known to leave their toys and clothes laying around, be vigilant and tidy up regularly. Or if you’ve got wood flooring in your home, avoid slippery socks when your child first gets to their feet.
Picking up little tips and tricks from other parents and my experience, here are 6 quick tips to help you childproof your home and keep your little ones safe at home.
1. Installing baby gates
Baby gates are every parent’s best friend when their child begins exploring their home. Strategically placing baby gates in key areas, such as at the top or bottom of staircases, prevents them from hurting themselves by going into areas they shouldn’t be – especially if unsupervised.
You might not want to use baby gates for individual rooms, as this can get quite expensive, not to mention unsightly. If this is the case, try using child locks on door handles to keep your little explorer away from rooms that may be dangerous. For example, if you’ve got a toolbox within reach, or you’re lucky enough to have an indoor swimming pool.
2. Keep heavy furniture secure
Tall and heavy pieces of furniture can be especially dangerous once your child is up and about. If they choose to climb a particular set of drawers or a bookshelf, it can lead to disastrous consequences.
Securing furniture to the wall or floor prevents any accidents from happening. This is especially important in your child’s bedroom. Unfortunately, you can’t be with them 24/7 (not if you or they want any sleep, anyway!), and therefore keeping their furniture firmly in its place is so important. If they get up in the night and decide to go on a mini adventure, they won’t run the risk of heavy cabinets falling on top of them.
3. Install locks on your drawers and cupboards
Anything that’s within reach, the smart money says your child will try to grab it. This goes for any cupboards or drawers you have that they might have access to.
By installing added protection to anything they should be going in, you prevent access to potentially damaging items such as small objects or cleaning products. This is mostly applicable to your kitchen but be sure to check other areas of your home!
4. Keep dangerous items out of reach
This includes more than just sharp objects and small choke hazards. Although you may be installing locks on cupboards, anything seriously dangerous – such as alcohol and medicine – should be moved way out of reach in high places.
When you’re cooking in the kitchen, turn pan handles away from you. Your little one might see it as just another thing to grab, and that’s the last thing you want. Make sure your bathroom amenities are also stored up and away from wandering hands.
5. Secure your windows
There are a few ways to make sure your child doesn’t hurt themselves near any windows. Firstly, you can start with moving tall pieces of furniture away from window ledges to discourage them climbing up.
You can also look into child restrictors to fit on the windows, which prevents them from opening fully and stop them falling out. If your window blinds have looped cords, be sure to remove them as they present a real suffocation risk.
6. Use covers to prevent injury
If you’ve got any plug sockets that are eye-level for your child, using cheap covers for these are a great way to prevent them from sticking anything in them. Radiator covers are also widely used to stop your little one accidentally burning themselves when they’re crawling – or looking for something to hold on to when they’re walking around.
If you’ve got furniture with sharp edges, use edge guards to prevent small bumps from being a nasty cut. Bear in mind that your child will grow quickly, so you may have to move them to make sure they’re protected.
A safe home is a happy home, and taking precautions is part and parcel of being a parent. These tips should be a good start, but be sure to do your own research and find tips that work for you!
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