Childproofing – How to make your toddler safe
So what is childproofing? It is taking practical measures to prevent injury and ensuring that parents understand the potential dangers in their home.
Curious children left unattended, even for a moment, will wonder into rooms that hold potential dangers. All parents wish to provide the very best possible environment for their young children to grow up in and any unnecessary bumps, tumbles, burns, fractures, and even more serious injuries can easily be avoided with a little understanding and common sense of the dangers and how best to avoid them.
Childproofing is no substitute for responsible parenting; the slightest distraction like the telephone ringing or another child requiring attention can cause the one you’ve been looking out for to be off courting trouble. Make sure your environment is safe.
Here are some tips for childproofing your house
Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore important to keep your child’s safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your toddler safe:
* Use covers on electrical outlets and latches on cabinets. * Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
* Prevent poisoning by keeping household cleaners, chemicals and medicines completely out of reach and always store them in their original container also, buy and use products with child resistant caps.
* A childproofing must is to use stair gates and window guards.
* Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers in the house and use flame retardant sleepware.
* Remove furniture with sharp edges or use soft guards.
* Consider using a wall anchor for the stove and large pieces of furniture that can tip over. * Use nonskid backing on rugs and make sure carpets are securely tacked down as toddler running around may slide on one and fall to the ground
* Remove breakables from low tables and shelves.
* Remove small toys and other choking hazards from around your child.
* Tie cords of blinds, curtains and appliances up out of reach.
* Do not carry hot liquids or food near your toddler and do not allow your toddler near stoves, heaters or other hot appliances (especially curling irons). When cooking, use the back burners and turn pot handles inwards.
* To prevent drowning, empty all water from bathtubs and pails, keep the door to the bathroom closed and never leave your toddler alone near any container of water. * Childproof the swimming pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate and never leave your child alone in a swimming area, even if they are a good swimmer. * Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German shepards) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
* Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone.
* Have locks on the rooms that are not child proof.
Just how safe is your home ?
Get down on your hands and knees and see the world from a toddlers eye view – you’ll see what they can see and reach for Stairs to tumble down, sharp corners to fall on to, plug sockets to poke inquisitive fingers into and all manner of interesting machines crying out to be investigated. Your safe, safe home can suddenly seems a dangerous place when you have a baby. If you have young children, you frequently wish you had eyes in the back of your head Turn around for a second and an inquisitive toddler will decide to explore something dangerous According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident, more than 600,000 children aged four or under needed hospital treatment following accidents in the home A lot of parents have no idea how dangerous the home can be The Department of Trade and Industry say most accidents happen in the lounge and dining room, closely followed by the kitchen, bathroom and stairs Most accidents occur during the day, in particular between the hours of 6pm and 7pm, when people are often beginning to get tired and clumsy Another common time is during stressful periods, or when there is a distraction, for example when you are trying to cook Lots of parents don’t have the time to fit safety gadgets and they haven’t a clue what to buy’ ‘They should be thinking about making their home safe long before their baby starts to crawl. By six months a rumbustious baby will want to touch, feel and taste everything within 4 ft of the floor. Untidy homes cause more accidents than tidy ones… FACT!
Mommy’s Helper Toilet Seat Lid-Lok
Easy one hand release operation is easy for an adult hand, but difficult for a child
Quick and easy to open
Easily attaches to all types of bowls and lids No adhesive required and you don’t have to un-bolt the seat to install
Simple to remove when not needed
ONLY $7.29
Prince Lionheart Table Edge Guard with 4 Corners, Chocolate Brown
Protect your child from sharp edges
12 feet of impact-absorbing foam and 4 corners in chocolate brown
Fire-retardant, non-toxic and latex free
ONLY $15.99
Click on this link for more information and advice on childproofing your home.
Click on this link to return to the homepage.
