5 Tips To Child-Proof Your Home For Your Little One’s Safety
Too many child-related accidents happen in the home. Avoid them with these five child-proofing tips to make your home a safe one
Child-proofing your home is an important step for child safety – the goal is to create a safe environment for children by preventing accidents and injuries. It’s also to help children learn how to take care of themselves, which helps them develop skills like independence and responsibility. Here are five ways to make sure your home is safe for your little one.
Install safety gates or locks on stairways and other places where you want to keep the child out. When exploring, children can slip easily on stairs, so it’s important to childproof those areas by installing gates at the top and bottom of each flight of stairs. In the kitchen, child-proof locks should be installed on cabinets containing dangerous cleaning supplies and other toxic substances – alternatively, you can install a safety gate at the entrance of the kitchen too, preventing your child from coming in when you’re cooking.
Put all medicines, cleaning supplies, and flammable items out of reach of children if possible. Using locks on drawers containing dangerous items, investing in a childproof cabinet to lock away hazardous materials, or creating an adults-access-only area all go a long way in protecting your child. Even small items like coins can be hazardous if swallowed, so avoid leaving loose change lying around.
The last thing you want is inquisitive little fingers exploring electrical outlets, so purchase some plastic childproof covers – they’re fairly inexpensive – and attach them securely to all the outlets in your house.
Sharp corners on coffee tables, desks, and dressers can be child hazards – cover them with thick rubber pads or round corner guards to prevent serious injury should the child accidentally bump into them. These should also be checked regularly to ensure they don’t fall off.
These can be dangerous for a child if they get wrapped around their neck. Make sure that you tie them up and leave no loose ends for curious little hands to play with. Some cable organisers also come with child-resistant covers, which are specially designed to prevent them from being opened.
Text: Home & Decor