Ok, here’s a scary fact:
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), most of the children’s accidents happen within the house, not outside of it.
Most accidents happen between the ages of 1 and 4.
Most of these injuries happen because of falls, ingestions of poisonous substances, and stings with sharp items.
You really cannot always be supervising your baby.
I know this. Before my baby arrived, I used to think I will never let my baby out of my sight.
But guess what, new mommy? Life happens.
Sometimes you are cooking or on the phone getting a doctor’s appointment, sometimes you are in the shower, sometimes… really, life just happens and no, no matter how much you try, you simply cannot become a 24x7 CCTV camera on your child.
And yes, then accidents happen.
Of course we don’t want them. We want our children safe.
So what do we do?
We BABYPROOF.
I like to keep thinking that we are living in the best of times where some really cool products are available to ensure your child’s safety.
These products work with the arrangement and design of your home in a way that it will be safe for your toddler and as well as your teenage kids. And truly, it is one of the most important steps you can do for your family.
When to start?
Before your newborn baby arrives home is the best time to start creating a danger-free environment. You can start with securing the bigger wobbly furnitures and the slippery floors.
Once the baby starts to crawl, you have to do a second round of baby proofing in the house.
It is not as hard as it seems. Just take a walk around your home and check out to see the suspects of danger zones in your house. Crawling around on all fours will give you the best view of potential hazards.
(It will also be a good exercise and will be funny. So go ahead, get a few laughs while securing your baby.)
I already did that for you and here is my list of the most common sources of danger.
Check the list out below:
1. The top and the bottom of your stairs, entry to the kitchen and the bathroom. And if you have a basement door or gym. These are sources of potential falls. Close them by placing gates
2. Set up safety covers over all electric outlets. Those tiny curious fingers will go into those sockets and you will not forgive yourself, otherwise.
3. Anchor your TV, the lower shelves and all the big furniture around the house, these can tip over and become particularly dangerous.
4. Remove hanging items,or make them out of reach, items like blind cords or heavy decorations for example.
5. Move tall wobbly items behind furniture or where your toddler won’t be able to reach them.
6. Protect fireplaces or any source of heat or fire you have around the house.
7. Install window guards. You can find pressure mounted and adjustable window guards to protect your child from falls.
8. Get friendly with fire extinguishers and place fire detectors in all rooms.
9. Install a carbon monoxide detector in the bedrooms and basement.
10. install furniture corner guards to sharp edge of furnitures like a rectangular table for example to soften the blow from the eventual bump that is set to happen.
11. Lock up all the poisonous substances, medicines, cleaning materials. Place all your makeup, creams and perfume in a well secured cabinet. and apply a cabinet safety lock, preferable one with a magnet and its invisible on the outside.
12. install a safety Latch on all the drawers and furniture doors.
13. Keep unused electronic items like iron, hairdryer etc away from the kids. Tie up all the hanging cables around fixed electrical items, like TV, video player etc.
14. Put away all sharp items such as scissors, tweezers, and items that can easily break, vases, glass items.
15. Use toilet lids that can be locked or keep them always closed.
16. Store away all the small items like toy pieces, coins, buttons, marbles, rubber bands, deflated balloons.
17. Stick non slip pads under all rugs, to prevent them from slipping and causing a fall.
18. Doors are one of the items that can cause many injuries. Get a device to make your door child proof, like the cradle plus door lever lock, door knob locks, hinge guards, doorstops etc.
19. Install door bumper guards, not only will this reduce the noise from banging doors, but also serve as a finger pinch guard when little ones are playing and slam the doors.
20. Watchout for items with loose magnets, this can be very hazardous if swallowed.
21. Don’t forget about the house plants, some can be poisonous or can have trailing vines or thorns. Keep them away from your toddler’s reach.
What a list, right?
Don’t feel overwhelmed. If you are reading this article, you are on the right path.
Baby proofing your home is not a one-day job. If you start ahead with one item at a time, it will not be difficult or complicated.
And you really will thank yourself later for preventing your baby from accidents.
