For a baby on the move, the world can be quite a dangerous place. Each year, over 2 million children receive injuries in their homes from various sources. Now that your baby is moving around, it's vital that your home provides a haven of safety for him or her. Below are some of the areas to be sure to baby proof for your crawling babies or walking toddlers: Stairs Place safety gates at the top of the stairs or close and lock doors that lead to the stairwell. Safety gates are also recommended for the bottom of the stairs to prevent the curious explorer from climbing up the stairs. Bathrooms Injuries frequently occur in the bathroom. It's possible for kids to drown in even a few inches of water. In addition, these little humans are drawn to playing around in the toilet exposing themselves to germs and chemicals. They also like to open bathroom cabinets, which often contain medications or harmful cleaners. Therefore, keeping the bathroom doors closed is smart. Door handles can be baby proofed with special covers that make it difficult for little hands to open. Child-proof locks are available for cabinet doors and toilet seats.
Window Coverings Window coverings are another potential danger. Use safer, inaccessible cord or cordless options to replace corded window coverings to prevent entanglement and possible strangulation. It is also important to secure windows to ensure they cannot be opened more than four inches. Some windows come with safety latches from the manufacturer that only allow the window to be opened a little when the latches are deployed.
Lock Up Dangerous Items Safeguard curious children against chemicals such as household cleaners by storing dangerous items in locked cabinets. There is also the option of installing safety latches that automatically lock when the cabinet door is closed. Medications fall into this category as well as cigarettes, vape pens, lighters, matches and simple plastic bags. If possible use one area or closet to have all of these items in one place, making it easier to remember to secure them.
Cover Outlets Outlet covers should be placed on all exposed electrical sockets to prevent electric shock. Smaller outlet covers could become choking hazards if they are pried out of the wall. Choose child-proof covers for which two hands are needed to take out or screwed-on cover plates. Updates in construction have allowed for specialized outlets that require two items (such as an electric cord prong) to be entered at the same time in order for the covers inside to be pushed away. This isn't always popular as they can be difficult to use by adults or elderly at times.
Kitchen Safety
Keep children away from stoves and burners where curious hands can easily be injured. Knobs can be child-proofed for stoves. Do not allow your children to play inside the refrigerator, where they can easily become trapped inside. Teaching your child the word, "hot" can help them understand which items can injure them (fireplaces, light bulbs, ovens, pots and pans.)
SafetyNook offers advice and products to meet your all of your child-proofing needs while giving your home a clean and stylish look that other safety gadgets do not.