05 Mar 6 Spots You Should Childproof
4 min. read
Once you have children who are able to walk, crawl and move around, one of the biggest concerns parents is undoubtedly how safe their child is going to be while in the home. Childproofing is one of the first things that many parents do, even before their child is born. However, childproofing can be complicated, and many parents accidentally miss some of the most dangerous areas in the home while childproofing their home.
Childproofing isn’t something you do one a weekend; it’s a continuous process of making sure the environment is safe for their age and developmental stage of your child. For example, babyproofing starts before you bring your newborn home with making sure you know how to use your car seat properly and making sure you have a safe sleep environment to prevent SIDS or suffocation. When your child is about 12 months of age, you need to start keeping an eye out for things like keeping the dishwasher packets out of reach. When your child reaches the age 5, it’s important to talk to your child about stranger danger. When your child is about the age of 10, it’s time to set boundaries, have safeguards and start discussions on staying safe on the internet. So let’s first talk about the first year or two and how to look at common areas of your home.
Before you ever get started, it is important to first understand the basics of childproofing. If you are currently childproofing your home, here are six spots that you need to pay close attention to and make sure that you childproof.
- Corners and Edges
When your toddler starts walking, corners and edges will suddenly become your worst nightmare. While they may not seem all that dangerous, things like coffee tables, end tables, windowsills and fireplace hearths are all potentially dangerous. In addition to keeping a close eye on your toddler around these surfaces, you need to cushion these edges with bumpers. You can find convenient corner bumpers at most baby stores.
If you aren’t sure if your toddler will actually hit their head on a surface, it is always better to be safe than sorry and cover the corners anyway. You may be surprised by how easily your toddler can hurt themselves on corners and edges.
- Toilets
This is one area of the home that is easy to forget, but it is still very important. Toilets may not seem that appealing to you, but to children, they look like a small pool or a fun place to drop toys and other objects. This is an easy fix with a simple plastic safety latch.
- Storage Areas
Just because your toddler can’t see a potentially dangerous object, it doesn’t mean that they won’t find it. When you are childproofing your home, you need to make sure everything that could be potentially dangerous is locked and hidden. This means cleaning supplies, medications, antifreeze, alcohol or anything that your little one may think about putting in their mouth. Also, don’t assume that putting it on a high shelf will work-toddlers are known for their expert climbing skills.
- Stairs and Doorways
Stairs are going to look really fun for toddlers, so make sure that you have sturdy safety gates at the top and the bottom of these stairs. You will also want a child-proof plastic doorknob cover for every room in the home that may lead to a dangerous area (such as the garage or bathrooms).
- Windows
Just because you normally keep your windows closed, it doesn’t mean that your child won’t find a way to open them up and accidentally tumble out. Metal window guards can help prevent this from happening. Make sure you pay close attention to the cords along your window blinds as well, they can be a strangulation hazard. The good news is, they can be shortened and kept out of reach while you are childproofing.
- Outlets
Most parents know that they should cover the outlets in their home while baby-proofing, but it is worth mentioning as it is such an important part of proper childproofing. Make sure that you put those plastic covers in all of your sockets, even those you think your baby can’t reach. Once they are a toddler, chances are they will find a way to put their finger in there.
If you are looking for more information on childproofing and different safety concerns with your little one, the experts here at Continuum Pediatrics are always able to help with all your health and safety concerns. Call us for more information or an appointment at 817-617-8600.