One responsibility that comes with being a parent is ensuring the safety of your child, especially in the home. Domestic accidents are one of the top reasons children under three years old visit the hospital every year. At this age, they are curious and adventurous and tend to play with anything in sight. They don’t know any better. So, it’s your duty as an adult to keep them safe. That is why you must babyproof all rooms and corners of your home. Babyproofing your bedroom is an integral part of that.
Wondering why you should babyproof your bedroom?
Babies and toddlers are often clingy to their parents. Although they have their room, you may feel comfortable if they sleep in your room so you can keep an eye on them. So, you must ensure that your bedroom is safe for your child.
READ: Babyproofing Your Sitting Room
How to Babyproof Your Bedroom
Babyproofing your bedroom is easy compared to other parts of the house. You just have to follow these simple steps to babyproof your bedroom.
Crib
Let’s start with the most important item in the bedroom, your baby’s crib. Babies spend a lot of unsupervised time in their cribs. If you don’t set up the crib properly, it could pose a danger to your baby.
First, make sure the crib is properly designed. It should not have cutouts on the head and footboard that could hurt the baby. The slats should not be too wide apart. Also, ensure that the height is appropriate to reduce the risk of your baby falling out of the crib. Check the surfaces to ensure it has no sharp or jagged edges, splinters, broken slats, and loose screws.
The position of the crib is equally important. Don’t place the crib near the window or door. Make sure the area around the crib is free of anything your baby can grab through the rails or furniture they can climb. Don’t stuff your baby’s crib with toys, blankets, and pillows to avoid accidental suffocation.
Window
You’re probably wondering how the window can put your baby at risk. Well, you’re not the only one who loves a good view. Babies do too, and they may get in harm’s way, trying to get a closer look. Make sure you use window guards and nets to prevent your baby from falling through an open window.
Be wary of window blinds, curtains, and shades with cords. It’s common for children to chew and play with them. They can even wrap it around their neck and get strangled. You can avoid that by using cordless window coverings. Also, ensure that the window lock is not within your baby’s reach.
Doors
Always keep your doors closed to prevent your baby from crawling out of the room. Door locks should be fixed above your baby’s reach. Secure your door with door guards and covers. You can even improvise with cardboard paper. Just cut a piece of cardboard, wrap it around your doorknob, and seal it with adhesive tape. When your baby tries to open the door, he will only be able to spin the cardboard without actually turning the knob.
Electrical Outlets
It’s dangerous to leave electrical sockets and outlets open when you have a baby in the house. They can stick their fingers into the hole and get hurt. Seal all electrical openings with outlet covers and plates. You can use heavy furniture to hide sockets you rarely use. Always unplug electrical appliances after use. If you have any electrical appliances with long wires, conceal them in a wire guard.
Furniture
It’s quite common for children to climb, pull and push any furniture in sight. In their playful adventure, they can mistakenly tip over a heavy piece of furniture and get injured. To prevent this, you must strap heavy bedroom furniture to the wall or floor. You can use strong nylon straps, braces, and screws. It will anchor your furniture in place and prevent them from falling. Also, seal sharp furniture edges with edge bumpers.
Toys and Small Objects
According to research by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), one-third of toy-related injuries occur in children under the age of five years. Children litter the room with their toys, which could cause them to trip and fall. When not in use, keep toys away in a toy box with a plastic lid. The same goes for small objects like coins, beads, buttons, cufflinks, and crayons. In fact, any object that can fit into a toilet roll can cause a choking hazard. Your baby can chew and choke on them. Keep them as far away as possible.
Alarms and Detectors
We bet you’ve heard stories of children accidentally causing a fire outbreak in the home. You can prevent such hazards in your home by installing smoke alarms and gas detectors. Install one in every room in your home. Don’t rely on your senses to know when there is a burning cable or an open gas tank. Gases like carbon monoxide (CO) are colorless, odorless, and difficult to detect. That’s why you need a smoke alarm and gas detectors.
Bottomline
Kids can be a handful, and it’s your duty as a parent to keep them safe at all times. To be fair, you can’t predict your kids’ every move or keep 24-hour surveillance on them. But you can take precautionary measures to secure your home. You can start by following the simple steps listed above to babyproof your bedroom.