Most childhood injuries occur in the home because most children spend a tremendous amount of time at home. That's why it's very important to childproof your home to limit the potential for injury. Here are a few great tips to help you make your home safe for your child.
Your home should be childproofed as soon as your child becomes mobile. When your baby starts crawling be sure to take a crawling tour of your house to spot and remove potential hazards. Move everything breakable up high and make sure that anything that can be toppled is secured.
Put child deterrent locks on drawers and cabinets, and be sure to use socket covers to prevent random items being inserted in electrical sockets. Be certain that all poisons, cleaning supplies, sharp objects and any other dangerous item is stored up high and/or locked up.
Put safety gates in doorways to your kitchen and bathroom. Alternately, just keep the bathroom door closed for your own convenience so that you won't have to remove or climb over the safety gate multiple times a day. Guests will also appreciate this.
Safety gates on the level can be the pressure mounted type. Safety gates guarding stairwells should be secured with hardware to make certain they will stay in place.
If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, be sure to have a good, solid screen or fencing around it to prevent accidental burns.
Gates should also be installed around any type of swimming pool - whether above-ground or in-ground. Wading pools should be emptied between uses. Drowning is a major cause of child death and should be carefully guarded against.
Make all sources of water off-limits with the use of gates and latches. For example, you should install a latch on the lid of your toilet to prevent accidental drowning. Be sure to drain water from the tub and sinks when not in use and empty any standing water in buckets.
Check all of the edges of furnishings and countertops in your home. Falling against a sharp edge or corner can cause injuries requiring stitches. Invest in some good bumpers to cover any sharp edges you find.
Be sure that all medications brought into your home are in containers equipped with child resistant packaging and keep them up high and locked away.
Check your entire house for loose electrical cords, shade or blind pulls or anything else that might present an accidental hanging hazard. Use twist-ties, zip ties or empty toilet paper rolls to bundle up long, loose electrical cords and get them neatly stored away. Roll up curtain and blind pulls to above your child's reach and secure them with a hook next to the window.
Install safety screens on upstairs windows to avoid dangerous falls. Of course, falling from a first floor window is also undesirable, so you may wish to simply install these screens throughout your home.
Always be on the lookout for potential hazards in and around your home. With vigilance and by following the tips presented here, you will be able to provide your child with a safe environment to enjoy.