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Overview:
This project will show you how to childproof your home. Keeping their child safe is every parent's priority. And, as any parent knows, it's amazing what kids can get into. Childproofing your home can protect your child from common household dangers and increase your peace of mind. Of course, there's no substitute for supervision and you should review your childproofing measures every six months to make sure your child hasn't outgrown or outsmarted them!
Materials:
safety latches for cupboards, door locks, safety gates, hook and eye latches, outlet covers or plates for electrical outlets, window guards, rubber bumpers, fireplace guards
Tools You'll Need:
30-pc. toolkit
Barbara's Tips:
Program emergency phone numbers, including pediatrician, nearby hospital emergency room and national poison control hotline into your cell phone.
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Step 1: Determine the Hazards
Examine your house upstairs and down to determine any of the household hazards that can cause accidents to happen. Most baby proofing materials can be purchased at home improvement, drug stores or hardware stores. Make sure you pay particular attention to potential dangers at low levels. Get down on your hands and knees for a child's eye view of interesting - but potentially dangerous - situations.
Step 2: Make it Safe
- Install outlet covers on all electrical outlets.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on all floors of your home. Smoke detectors should be located outside all sleeping areas. Follow manufacturers instructions for installation.
- Use window guards, window stops or safety netting on all second floor windows.
- Buy safety tassels to replace cord loops on window blinds.
- Keep children out of dangerous rooms (bathrooms, garage, office, exercise room) by using knob covers and door locks. Use hook and eye latches high on the door, well out of a child's reach.
- Have a cordless or cell phone, so you can be mobile around the house.
- Post emergency numbers at all phones, including numbers for poison control, nearest emergency room and pediatrician.
- Have lead paint professionally removed.
- Install safety latches on all cupboards or airtight containers, including refrigerators, chests or coolers where a child might try to hide.
- Place bumpers on sharp corners, edges of furniture and fireplace hearth.
- Remove any glass top tables.
Step 3: Make it Safe, cont.
- Use non-slip padding with all indoor area rugs.
- Keep indoor plants out of reach.
- Anchor bookshelves and other heavy furniture to walls to prevent tipping.
- Check for and remove and frayed or damaged electrical cords.
- Keep recliner chairs closed when not being used.
- Install safety gates at top and bottom of stairs.
- Install handrails along entire length of stairs.
- Keep crib, playpen and changing table away from windows, dangling cords and heating vents.
- Do not put pillow, blankets, stuffed toys, comforters or other bedding in the crib.
- Make sure your diaper-changing table has a strap keep supplies within easy reach. One hand should be on your child at all times while they are on the changing table.
- Consider carpeting your child's room to cushion accidental falls.
- Never leave balloons, plastic bags or dry-cleaning bags near children. They can all cause accidental suffocation.
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