- Ways to babyproof your home how to#
- Ways to babyproof your home install#
- Ways to babyproof your home windows#
Keep little hands from opening doors to forbidden rooms by using safety covers that are too big for a toddler’s hands to grab-or that require pressing on tabs (similar to a childproof cap) to open. Secure Door KnobsĬlosing doors to places you don’t want your child to go is only the first line of defense. Make sure the covers are large enough to go over the plate openings (and to avoid becoming a choking hazard) and that they fit securely.
Prevent accidental shocks and electrocution by covering outlets and plates to keep out tiny fingers. You can use pressure-mounted gates between rooms however, at the top and bottom of stairs, securely mount gates to the wall or another fixed object so they don’t give out under pressure. First, though, make sure the gate meets current safety standards (some older gates have accordion-style “V” shapes that could trap a child’s head and neck) and that you’re using the right gate for the location. Keep babies safely on the other side of areas that might be dangerous-the top of the stairs, the kitchen, the garage or any other potentially hazardous place-by installing safety gates.
Ways to babyproof your home install#
To prevent these kinds of accidents, anchor all heavy pieces of furniture and appliances to the wall or floor, and install anti-tip brackets on anything free-standing, like a stove. On average, a child is injured every 30 minutes from falling furniture. Injuries can occur when children climb onto or pull themselves up onto heavy objects (such as televisions, shelves, dressers, chests, and kitchen ranges) and are crushed beneath them when they tip over. “It only means that it takes longer for them to open them.” “Child-resistant lids don’t mean that children can’t get into them,” warns Crosswhite.
Use safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers that are filled with potentially dangerous products, and don’t assume that childproof caps are enough. All of these, along with matches and lighters, should be kept out of reach and out of sight of children. Nearly 80,000 children went to emergency rooms for unintended poisoning in 2016, says Crosswhite that includes accidental ingestion of medicines, cleaning products, laundry detergents and pods, and even mouthwash. Lock The Medicine Cabinet And Cleaning Products They’re easy to find-almost all stores that sell blinds carry cordless versions.ģ. The CPSC reports that one child dies every month from strangulation caused by window-blind cords another suffers near-strangulation. Safety netting adds an additional layer of protection.
Ways to babyproof your home windows#
Install a window stop or window lock, so the windows won’t open more than four inches. “More than 3,000 children fall out of windows each year,” says Crosswhite, who cautions that screens aren’t enough to protect a child from a fall. “It’s our job to let kids explore their worlds,” she says, “but to do it safely 1.
Ways to babyproof your home how to#
As a spokesperson for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Karla Crosswhite has some ideas on how to do that. The good news: Many accidents can be prevented if your house is properly baby-proofed before the little one arrives. For example, you may think to cover hot radiators with a padded cover-but did you know that some houseplants are poisonous? ( Here’s how to check.) Potential hazards are everywhere, but not all of them are obvious.
As children grow (and then crawl, and then walk), they’ll get into everything. The joy of welcoming a new baby into your home is matched only by the anxiety that comes with it.
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