We love our children and want to protect them from danger. But sometimes we’re so concerned with perceived hazards found in public areas, we may neglect to address safety problems in our own homes.
Below are some ideas that can help new moms and dads keep their homes and yards accident-free.
Conduct a Safety Audit
In order to understand what’s dangerous to your child, you’ll need to view your home from your baby’s point of view. Get down on your hands and knees and move from room to room. Look under couches and beds and see which dangers may lurk beneath.
Check for outdoor hazards around the barbeque grill, any play equipment such as monkey bars, slides and swings. Be sure to regularly pick up pet droppings.
Prevent Scalding
A warm shower might seem nice to you but hot water has the ability to scald a child’s tender skin. Experts say that hot water accidents account for more deaths and hospital visits than when liquids are accidentally spilled or splashed.
To protect your child from an accidental water burn, turn your hot water setting to 120 degrees or less, or somewhere between “medium” and “low” if your controls don’t have numbers.
Check Furniture Edging
Sharp edges of furniture can pose a real hazard to children. Run your finger around the perimeter of tables, countertops and other pieces of furniture to spot anything that feels sharp or potentially dangerous.
Consider purchasing padded corner and edge guards if you have furnishings that may be problematic.
Lock Your Cabinets and Doors
Children may see cabinets as a treasure chest filled with goodies. But things can turn dangerous if toddlers get into medications, poisons or sharp objects.
Seemingly innocent products could be deadly, so instead of figuring out whether or not they are, just install baby latches through every single room in your home.
Add Safety Rails to Beds
Bed rails can protect a child from taking a tumble out of their bed, but they only work if they fit appropriately. Carefully measure your child’s bed to ensure a proper fit.
While there are many rail styles available, the kind that attaches to the top of the mattress frame, rather than on the side, is considered the safest; it prevents children from becoming accidentally trapped between the bed rails.
Use Baby Gates
Baby gates are an inexpensive way to separate youngsters from hazardous areas. Use baby gates to block access to laundry rooms or areas where pets may be kept.
Check thrift shops and consignment stores if you’re looking to purchase gates inexpensively. You can also prevent your child from taking a tumble down the stairs by purchasing eye and hook latches for doors that lead to basements.
Cover Electrical Sockets and Heaters
Electrical sockets sometimes prove tempting to curious children. Invest in socket covers as soon as your baby begins to crawl.
Make sure that these covers cannot be pulled off by tiny prying hands. Move furniture in front of electrical heaters to block a young child’s access.
Secure Pools and Ponds
Some children are absolutely mesmerized by water, but each year thousands of them accidentally drown in even the shallowest pools and ponds. Protect your little ones by:
- installing double locks on doors leading outside,
- fencing off any water features
- considering a pool alarm just in case a child accidentally falls in; they are inexpensive and if you alerted when they hit the water, chances are you will be able to prevent a drowning.
- having all family members take a CPR class
- teach your small children to swim and, more importantly, how to exit; there are floating rafts you can attach to the perimeter (these will also save a dog who may be able to swim but isn’t large enough to jump out).
Check Your Garden and Driveway
A neat yard and beautiful flowerbed may seem lovely, but rakes, plant food, plant shears, pesticides and weed killers can all put your child in peril. Lock up all gardening supplies and chemicals.
Get into the habit of placing a garbage bin at the end of your driveway to make any driver leaving or entering by car have to get out, look around and move the bin.
This clever tactic will help protect your child as well as other children who may be playing near your driveway.
The Home Safety Council (www.homesafetycouncil.org) has free tips and checklists for child safety. In addition, check with your insurance company to see what kind of information they can provide, and which discounts they may be able to offer if you install child protection devices around your home.
Remember, a few simple safety measures can save a life or prevent serious injury!
Author Bio - Quebec resident Jenny Morgan is a content contributor for Kanetix, an auto insurance comparison site, including Ontario car insurance quotes.
Some nice advice – thank you