Tips to Childproof Your Home
Childproofing your home may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be the most important step you take to keep your child safe during the important early formative years.
The basic concept of childproofing is to make sure that your child can't leave the home and can't get into any rooms that haven't been childproofed. To effectively childproof, here are some common tips:
The kitchen is a notoriously dangerous place for tots to hang around in. Sharp instruments, hot surfaces and slippery floors abound. To keep tiny fingers out of places they shouldn't go, childproof cabinets and drawers using safety locks. Safety locks can also be purchased for ovens, which you may find especially convenient if you have a lower oven, just the right height for a toddler.
In the bathroom, childproofing the door handle to make sure that a child can't enter without supervision is one option, but you may also want to childproof the toilet with a Safety Toilet Lid Lock. Keep cabinets with dangerous toxins locked and you can also invest in a special showerhead, known as an anti-scalding device to make sure water temperatures don't get too hot for delicate skin.
If your home has stairs, a safety gate will be necessary to make sure children stay on the same floor as you, railing guards can prevent children from slipping through or getting their heads stuck.
Elsewhere in the home, install safety gates or other devices in doorways, furniture guards on sharp corners, fireplace guards, VCR guards prevent curious fingers, electrical guards for all outlets, and cord wraps on blinds.
To find out which devices are the most effective and adult and installation-friendly, use a reliable consumer guide like Good Housekeeping to find brand name suggestions.
