Parenting Blog

The huge number of safety products created to keep your home safe for young children can be overwhelming, but it is actually quite simple to turn your home into a baby-friendly environment. It is easy and inexpensive to install basic safety devices yourself, and these devices can prevent many accident and injuries.

First, you should ensure that your home has working smoke detectors on every floor. Check them once every month to ensure that they are functioning properly and that the batteries are charged. Every house should have a carbon monoxide detector, preferably on every floor but particularly near the bedrooms. If you live in an old house or a house with an uncarpeted basement, you should conduct a radon test. After cigarette smoking, radon, an odorless, colorless radioactive gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer. Old houses are at particular risk for radon, but this test is important for everyone. You can have this test professionally done or purchase a home testing kit and follow the instructions. It is very easy to do and will protect your health and save you money in the future.

You can install safety latches on every drawer and cupboard that is within your child’s reach. Bathroom and kitchen doors are especially important to latch shut, as they frequently contain poisonous products and sharp objects. If you have a crawling infant, you should keep bathroom and bedroom drawers closed. Doorknob covers or locks can make it more difficult for a child to enter a room. Latches are not 100% effective, since persistent babies may be able to get past them, but they are nonetheless an important safety precaution. To ensure safety, keep all potentially dangerous objects out of your baby’s reach or locked up. Older children in your house should understand how all latches and locks work and re-latch them every time.

Gates that screw into the wall should guard all stairs. Pressure gates work but are not always guaranteed. You can also use gates to bar the entrances to certain rooms. Some older gates may have bars wide enough for a baby to fit his head through, but newly purchased ones should meet safer standards.

Door stops and holders can prevent a child from shutting his fingers in a door. Corner and edge bumpers can lessen pain and prevent injury if your child falls on a piece of furniture. Outlet covers that are too large for a child to fit in his mouth should be used on all outlets. Safety netting should be used on all bars, balconies and windows. The screen in a window is not an effective safety device as a child can easily fall through it. You should, however, keep one window per room free of netting so that it can be used to escape in case of a fire.

Make sure everyone in your household understands how to work these safety devices. These simple steps go a long way toward keeping your baby safe.

The world is a fascinating place full of wonders for your little toddler. However, it can be a dangerous one too. As you are parenting in your own loving way, I am sure that you realize that. What you may not have thought about as much is how dangerous your own home can be for them.

Childproofing your home becomes increasingly important as your baby begins to crawl, walk, and exploring more and more each day. Your little one is becoming a toddler! This is a very challenging time in parenting, but it is of course, one of the most rewarding.

Save yourself some undue parenting worries and risks by effectively childproofing your home. What exactly should you do? The most common suggestion is for you to get down at your Childs level. Sit down with them in each room, then crawl from room to room as they would. This allows you to see the environment from their point of view, and you may spot some things you would not have thought of.

Firstly, look for any kind of cords, string, or anything that dangles and can get accidentally wrapped around the neck. Some of the most common objects and areas to pay special attention to in this aspect of parenting are: 

• Blinds – If you have the blinds with cords you pull to lift them, make sure they are put up and out of reach. Drape them across the top, or place a small hook on the wall and wrap it around the hook.

• Mobiles – Ensure any mobile you are using for your crib is not within reach of your little one.

• Electronics – Keep all the cords from your electronics safely tucked away out of reach. Preferably out of sight as well, so that they are not tempting your little one to try and get to them.

There are many parenting moments that your heart stops. Surely if your toddler is running, trips, and falls near the sharp corner of your living room table, it would be one of these times. Use rubber pieces corner guards to cover scary edges like these.

Of course, anytime there are pots or pans on the stove ensure you turn the handles toward the wall.

Keep all cleaners, medicines, and talcs in a high area with a lock. This includes your general house cleaner (that is often found under kitchen sinks), and medicines in the bathroom.

Make your parenting a touch simpler in the bathroom. Simply turn down the temperature on your hot water heater. And of course, with all of the parenting knowledge that has been given to you, you know to check the water before putting them into the bathtub!

These are only a scratch on the surface of childproofing your home. You will find parenting in a childproofed home will allow you to breathe a bit easier. Also, you will be able to spend more time playing and learning with your little one. Time spent on trying to deter them from dangerous situations is decreased.

Try searching your local stores, as many sell childproofing kits that can reduce the worries of parenting a toddler. They will often include items for keeping your little one out of the toilet, out of the fridge, out of the oven, and the rubber corner guards. There are different sets, so find the one that suits you, your family, your parenting style, and your home.