As parents, your child’s safety at home will always be a priority and concern for you. The home is a common place where children can easily get injured as they like to play and explore. However, if you take steps to ensure your child’s safety, you will be less stressed. In fact, you will be more confident with childproofing and system monitoring to help keep your child safe at all times at home.
There are so many things to worry about, like children playing too close to fires or heaters, on stairs, or when they touch active electric plugs. All these concerns make you want to monitor them 24/7, which is impossible when you have a full-time job or when you are preparing dinner. There are times when your child is playing in his or her room, and you are watching TV. In situations like these, childproofing can be a real benefit. You will probably have to consider childproofing each room to ensure all potential hazards are addressed.
Obtain a checklist, create a plan and get this sorted even before your baby is born. Here are eight essential tips to ensure child safety at home:
1. Teach your child about safety at home.
It is entirely possible to teach child safety at home. At first, toddlers may be too small to understand what can be dangerous for them at home. Their curiosity can lead to many injuries. However, you can supervise your children, so that they start learning what is dangerous and what is safe over time. You can also teach your child about the danger signs like hazard symbols.
2. Predict and prevent injuries
Inspect your entire home and check for safety hazards such as loose cords, sharp furniture edges, unguarded windows, chemical products in reach, and so forth. Determine all the high-risk zones such as bathrooms, kitchens and stairs. You should immediately childproof these areas. Get a hold of a childproofing checklist and use it as a guideline to implement child safety all over your home.
3. Ensure a safe environment
A safe environment is one where there is less chance of injuries. You may want to consider guards for windows, safety guards for entry of stairs and balconies, restricted window opening and sensor lighting. Some items can cause strangle and suffocation like ropes, bags and cords. These should be removed immediately or safely shielded so that they do not lead to injuries.
4. Avoid sharp corner furniture or glass furniture
The furniture around the home can have sharp corners that can injure children while they play or run around the house. If it is expensive to change all your furniture, then consider childproof corner guards. These guards are designed to protect children from bumping into sharp table corners.
Also, glass furniture can be a hazard as they can break and shatter all over the floor. For lower cabinets in the home and especially in the kitchen, you want to ensure they are protected. You also want to ensure no harmful chemicals like furniture polish or detergents are stored in these cabinets.
5. Monitoring using surveillance technology
Have you thought about smart home technology like electronic keyless door locks, presence detection system, baby monitoring cameras and nanny cameras? These home security systems and technologies can keep your child safe at all times and give you comfort knowing that you can check on them at all times. Smart home safety technologies are modern-day tools for parents who are concerned about their child’s safety.
6. Securing dangerous chemical products
Children may end up drinking harmful chemicals if they are not aware that these products are toxic. Bleach, paint thinners and abrasive cleaners are some of the products that children somehow get a hold of. Ensure to keep all these types of harmful chemicals under lock and key.
7. Securing all appliances and electric plugs
Electrical appliances, outlets, plugs and cords are all considered dangerous items. As the child grows, he or she will want to explore their environment. Before this happens, you should make sure that your children are safe from potential electrocution, shocks and burns. You can consider replacing all your electrical items with childproof systems, or you can ensure to these electrical plugs, outlets and other electrical items are covered or are not within reach.
There are self-closing outlets with a sliding mechanism that automatically locks when not in use. When it comes to appliances, children want to turn them on like the coffeemaker and microwave. Ensure these are not in reach and don’t leave a stool out as your child can use it to reach onto a kitchen countertop.
8. Preventing burns
Children can quickly get hold of a lighter, burning candle or place their hand over a hot stove. For burning candles and lighters, make sure they are not within reach. As for a burning stove, ensure to be present at all times. If you have to go to another room, switch off the stove and keep cooking vessels out of reach.
