Screen or glass doors aren’t the best protection since glass can heat up to dangerous temperatures, screens tip over and nearby fireplace tools are often heavy and may be sharp. Never leave your baby unsupervised in a room with a lit fireplace. Install metal window guards that screw into the sides of the window frame and have bars no more than four inches apart.įireplace. As for cords attached to window coverings, shorten them, attach plastic covers to the ends, and secure them to the wall with a tie-down device (or buy new window treatments that have kid-safe wands instead of cords). These items can strangle, so tie up lamp and computer cords to keep them out of your baby’s grasp. Cover these pointy parts of coffee and end tables plus the fireplace hearth with padding to prevent bumps and bruises.Įlectrical and window cords. And if you store guns in this space, pay extra close attention to this area.Ĭoffee table corners. Sharp furniture corners, lamp cords and the fireplace are just a few hot spots in the living room. Never leave matches in a little one's sight or reach. Keep hot dishes and liquids away from counter edges where they may fall on your baby, and skip tablecloths (a child can yank the bottom of one, causing heavy plates or serving dishes to topple). And be sure there are no dangling cords on windows or appliances around.Ĭlear the edges. Make sure to unplug kitchen appliances when they're not in use so that little fingers can't get to them. For extra protection, you can store those household products in high-up locked cabinets instead. Just as in the bathroom, a lock should be installed on the under-sink and other lower cabinets where cleaners, bleach and other dangerous liquids are typically stored. Also keep appliances with sharp edges like food processors locked away and out of your little one's reach.Ĭabinet and locks. Never leave a knife on the kitchen counter or table, and keep them out of reach in a block that’s stored up high or in a drawer with a safety latch. It’s also a good idea to cook on the back burners so pot handles aren’t reachable by your toddler. Also be sure to put a latch on the fridge and stash any magnets away so they're out of sight and out of reach. And place a door lock on your oven so it can’t be accidentally opened. Safety covers for stove knobs can keep your child from turning them on. Kitchen dangers include sharp objects, cleaning supplies and high heat from the oven and stove. The fix: Store it in the locked cabinet or keep it up high on a shelf. Curious kids love to sift through and possibly taste the contents of the trash can. Always store pills, cosmetics, shampoo, soap, mouthwash and toothpaste in a locked spot and out of reach of babies and toddlers. Set your water heater so it’s at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less to prevent burns. Lots of folks store toxic bathroom cleaners and small appliances like hair dryers in this space, so move all of these to higher shelves or put a lock on this cabinet. Yup, you should babyproof a toilet with a safety latch that prevents your busy bee from lifting the lid and peering inside.Ĭabinet lock. An exterior door lock is easy to install - do it today. For home lead remediation, contact a professional.Ī child can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, so you don’t want to take any chances when childproofing the bathroom. And if babies or toddlers ingest paint chips with lead, it can cause cognitive problems down the line. Lead paint still exists in millions of homes even though it was banned in 1978. Prevent heavy furniture like TVs, dressers and bookcases from tipping over and falling onto your little climber by securing them to the wall with mounted hardware and safety straps. Simple yet efficient, electrical outlet covers stop tiny fingers and toy pieces from getting into these dangerous little openings.įurniture mounts. Not only should you and other caregivers be trained in infant CPR, but having a well-stocked first aid kit on hand (with supplies including bandages, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment and pain medications) is also important. Experts recommend timing the switch with something like changing the clocks back in the fall or forward in the spring for Daylight Saving Time.įirst aid kit. Change batteries annually (or when the devices indicate that a new battery is needed). Make certain to test yours about once a month so you know they’re either fully charged or the batteries inside are fresh. Babyproofing the houseīabyproofing the house in general is about making sure you have the safety essentials installed and your home’s repairs and renovations are up to date.Ĭarbon monoxide and smoke detectors. And remember, no matter how much you childproof a home, there’s no substitute for your eagle-eyed supervision - kids can be surprisingly creative when it comes to getting into mischief.įor more help, here’s how to babyproof every room in the house so your sweetie stays safe.
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