A home can be a dangerous place for a child if proper safety precautions are not taken. According to Kids Health, unintentional injury is the main cause of death in children age 14 years and younger, and more than a third of these injuries occur at home. To keep your child safe at home, be sure to evaluate any potential dangers in every room of your house.
Sleeping Area
FamilyDoctor.org states that your child's sleeping area should be kept away from curtain or blind cords that she can wrap around her neck. A baby should be placed in a crib with bars no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart and a mattress that fits snugly inside. Until she is at least a year old, her sleeping area should be kept free of blankets, bumpers or stuffed animals, which can suffocate her.
Furniture
Check to make sure that any painted furniture in the house, especially the baby's furniture, was painted after 1978. According to Kids Health, lead-based paint was used before then. Make sure that dressers and bookcases are secured to walls with wall brackets. A young and active child may try to climb up furniture, and wall brackets can prevent a traumatic fall. Put padding on sharp furniture corners and never leave your child alone on a changing table or other high place.
Kitchen and Bathroom
Kids Health recommends turning pot and pan handles facing toward the back of the stove so that a child cannot pull them down. Whenever possible, use the back stove burners. Keep hot items and knives out of reach, and use child safety locks on the dishwasher, cupboards and drawers. Keep stepstools away from the stove and place knob protectors on the stovetop so your child cannot turn on the burners. Supervise him during bath time and never leave him alone. FamilyDoctor.org suggests setting your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Keep electrical items away from water and put a lock on the toilet.
Dangerous Items
Keep any dangerous items on high shelves and in locked cabinets, including medicines, vitamins, matches and lighters. You should also lock up unloaded firearms and ammunition in separate places to prevent your child from getting a hold of a weapon. Keep all cleaning supplies, especially items like bleach and insect repellent, far out of reach.
Other Safety Tips
For a young baby or toddler, keep safety gates near stairs. If your child is old enough to use the stairs, be sure that the railing or banister is secure. Place locks or doorknob covers on sliding doors, regular doors and laundry chutes. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you keep windows locked because screens are not designed to keep children inside. Place anti-slip pads under any rugs and make sure your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are working properly.
