Childproofing Your Home

Accidents do happen. We can't watch our children every second of every day, and scrapes, tumbles, and bruises are part of growing up. We expect these to happen. It's the other, more serious accidents we don't expect. The following are ways in which you can make your home a more safe environment for your child and protect against the unknown.

• Place cribs away from windows, so that blinds and curtain cords can’t be reached.
• Keep baby powder out of your child’s reach, and don’t shake it where your baby could inhale it.
• Keep room doors shut tight. Toys, shoes, pens, art supplies, perfumes, jewelry and other tempting items are a threat to infants and toddlers
• The water temperature from your faucets should not exceed 120 degrees F. Lower the setting on your water heater to warm.
• Razors, shaving cream, cosmetics and mouthwash should be kept in a medicine cabinet, locked with a childproof safety latch.
• Install childproof latches on cabinets and the refridgerator.
• Keep sharp knives in drawers fitted with childproof latches.
• Make sure cleaning supplies are stored out of reach in a locked cabinet,.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that guns should not be kept in a home where children are present. If you own a gun, keep it unloaded and out of reach in a locked cabinet.
• Area rugs are great for cushioning a fall, but make sure they have nonskid backings or pads so your child won’t slip on them.
• Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Put child-resistant safety socket plugs in all unused electrical outlets
• When cooking, always turn pot handles inward and use the rear burners whenever possible.
• Install stove sheilds that make oven controls inaccessible from below.
• Keep cords for appliances out of reach.
• Avoid using tablecloths. Toddlers can pull them down, spilling whatever is on the table on top of themselves.
• Store garbage under the sink with a childproof latch on the cabinet door, or make sure that the garbage can has a secure lid that will keep your child out.
• Check behind the cushions of the sofa and other furniture for coins and small items that pose choking hazards, and remove them.
• Make sure there’s a barrier around your fireplace, wood burning stove or other heating device to keep your child at a safe distance.
• Keep house plants up high, out of your child’s reach.
• Appley special edging strips to sharp corners of furniture expecially coffee tables.
• Be aware of top-heavy furniture, such as bookshelves, that toddlers or small children can pull down on top of themselves.
• Once every six months, re-evaluate how safe your home is. Get down to your child’s level, usually on your hands and kneeds, and inspect the places your child can reach.
• Remember, no amount of childproofing will take the place of your supervision.