Babyproof Your Home
When your Baby starts crawling and walking on his own, his curiosity will begin to show itself. Your Baby will get into anything and everything that he can, because he wants to understand his surroundings. While there are plenty of hazards around your home that pose a threat to adults, there are many more that put a curious Baby at risk. Taking the time to Babyproof your home will put dangers out of reach and will allow your Baby to explore your home more freely.
Here are some of the things you can do to make your home a safer place for your Baby:
* Lock chemicals up in cabinets. Dangerous chemicals, such as cleaning supplies and bug spray, should ideally be kept high enough so that your Baby can't reach them, but sometimes that's not an option. You can find inexpensive safety latches or locks to use on cabinets at a hardware or discount store.
* Keep your toddler out of rooms that contain hazards. Lock doors if you need to. If you can't lock the door, you can buy a doorknob cover that will prevent your toddler from opening it but will still allow you to.
* The temperature on your water heater should be turned to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will prevent your Baby from accidentely being scalded if he should turn on the hot water. Anti-Scald Devices should also be installed on all of your faucets and showerheads.
* Install locking latches on your dishwasher and oven. These appliances pose many dangers to a small child, so it's best to make sure he can't open them. You should also install knob covers and a stove guard to prevent him from getting burned on the stovetop.
* Learn about your plants. Some plants are poisonous and should be kept away from your Baby completely. Even if they are up high enough that your toddler can't reach them, leaves and petals could make their way to the floor.
* Place outlet covers on unused outlets, and keep electrical cords as inaccessible as possible. It's also crucial to inspect cords regularly to make sure they are not damaged. Outlet covers will prevent a curious Toddler from sticking anything into the holes.
* Installing window guards will prevent windows from being opened far enough for your toddler to get through them. Keep furniture that the child could climb on away from windows if possible. You should also keep window blind cords out of his reach. Your Toddler can get the cord wrapped around his neck.
* Keep bookcases, microwave carts, and other such furniture secured to the wall. These can easily be turned over by a curious toddler climbing or pulling on them.
These are a few of the things you can do to protect your toddler. Looking at your home from his point of view will help you determine what other measures you need to take. Close supervision is the best way to prevent accidents and injuries, however, toddlers have a way of getting out of sight before you even realize what's going on. I am sure you have heard parents say, "I only turned my head for a moment"! That's why Babyproofing your home is a never-ending but extremely important job for a parent.
Learn more about how to keep your child safe including a checklist of To-Dos and Not-To-Dos by visiting our Complete Baby Safety Page.
