The home should be the safest and most secure place for a child. Unfortunately, several domestic accidents still occur here.
The most prevalent causes of domestic accidents range from food poisoning to accidental drowning, burns, and falls. Children’s impulsiveness, safety ignorance, and curiosity make them the most vulnerable to domestic accidents. These harmful and unintended events lead to child injuries, permanent disabilities, and sometimes, death.
Do not be alarmed or overwhelmed just yet, domestic accidents are unexpected and largely preventable. Childproof is simply designing a mechanism that prevents children from causing harm to themselves and their surroundings.
Many parents and guardians, especially those making their debut into parenthood, have asked safety professionals the question “when should I childproof my home?” A detailed response to this recurring question has been provided for you.
RELATED: Babyproofing your sitting room.
Childproof before your baby arrives
Experts recommend that the ideal time to set up childproof devices is a couple of months before the baby is born. This advice is predicated upon the fact that some recommended childproofing designs require ample time to be fitted.
One may ask, why do I need to childproof my home before the birth of my child? The answer is simple- these checks and tasks are done to prevent anything that could cause harm while attending to your infant child. Subtle things like shaky household furniture and slippery floors could indirectly pose a risk to your baby. We have highlighted a few recommended precautions you can put in place before your baby is born.
- Take away pillows, bumper pads, and blankets from your baby’s crib as these can cause suffocation.
- Install a UL Listed smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your home. This First Alert product should serve you quite nicely.
- Purchase a first aid kit and stock it up with essential medicines. Buy this FSA HSA-approved first aid kit if you don’t have one already.
- A workable fire extinguisher always comes in handy, get one.
- Avoid repainting your home once the baby is born as paint fumes are harmful to babies.
- Also, make a habit of ridding your home of dust and flaking paint as these pose danger to your baby if inhaled.
Before your baby begins to crawl
It is imperative that parents do the second round of childproof preparations once the baby begins to crawl. This sweep is expected to be thorough as babies on the move are more susceptible to domestic accidents than newborn babies. See some of our recommendations below.
- Your baby’s medical information and emergency numbers should be placed in strategic places in your home.
- Replace your tablecloths with non-slip placemats as children are fond of tugging on them. This product is beautiful and safe.
- Place non-slip pads under your carpets and rugs.
- Pad all sharp corners including furniture edges with safety pads.
- It is imperative that you keep your surroundings clean as young children tend to place anything they find in their mouths.
- This is a matter of necessity: KEEP electrical appliances away from your baby’s reach.
- Ensure your picture frames and television set are hung away nicely on the walls. This METAL Anti Tip Furniture Kit works perfectly and is easy to install.
When your baby takes his/her first step
There are some essential childproof preparations you have to make once your child starts walking or climbing. There’s no telling the harm children can wreak once they gain this step of independence. Soon they are going into all the rooms, climbing the walls and kitchen cabinets, and playing hide-and-seek with mommy and daddy. Don’t be taken unawares, be prepared!
- Keep matches and candles out of the reach of your child.
- Use furniture or decorative pillows to block any openings within your home.
- Always endeavor to close doors and drawers within your child’s reach.
- Position your child’s nursery away from open windows and outlets.
- Fit in outlet covers.
- Install window guards. This easy-to-fix adjustable window guard could make a lot of difference.
- Keep chemicals out of the reach of your child.
In childproofing, the “where?” is as important as the “when?”
Do not restrict your childproofing preparations to the bedroom, sitting room, or your child’s crib. Extend these measures to other living areas around like the kitchen and dining areas. Children tend to explore a lot without minding the repercussions of their actions. You can apply some of these childproofing solutions to your kitchen, veranda, and even your walkways.
- Store away all small toys from these areas as they could cause some severe choking to your child if ingested.
- Replace your non-tempered glass tables with tempered glass tables. Non-tempered glass tables shatter easily and cause severe injury to your child. Some quality tempered glass tables can be gotten on Amazon.
- Stuffed animals and pillows should be kept out of your child’s crib as they are known to cause suffocation.
- Balloons used to decorate your child’s room should be kept away from touching distance.
- The kitchen is a hub of many unseen hazards; ensure you keep it off-limits to your child by gating it.
- Cabinets, where you store items like detergents, cleaning agents, and drain openers, should be fitted with secure locks.
- Ovens and microwaves should be kept out of the reach of your child.
- Pull off the knobs from your gas burners whenever you are not using them.
- Cutleries and cooking utensils should be locked away in secure cabinets.
- Ensure adequate fencing around your swimming pool. This DIY Child Safety Pool Fence kit would come in handy.
You may follow this SafeWise room-by-room guide on childproofing your home.
When should I stop childproofing my home?
A mum of two aptly answered this question when she said: “Every time I want to splurge and buy that expensive fancy rug, I am reminded by the presence of my kids that I have to wait till they go off to college”. Think of this with childproofing your home in mind. As your kids grow and become more independent, their safety needs change but never really goes away. You’ve to adapt to suit their needs.
Childproofing your home can be tasking but it is worth it. Thankfully, it gets somewhat easier when they can understand safety. Go ahead, have all the fun with your kids, and do your best in keeping them safe at home. Take all necessary precautions in safeguarding your home to ensure your child’s safety at all times.
Adhere strictly to the laid down child safety rules and regulations prescribed by health and safety professionals. Ensure your guard is up at all times by keeping a close watch on your ward; don’t forget you are his/her primary caregiver!