While you may consider your home a safe and comfortable place, it contains untold dangers for your baby or young child. Young children touch anything that looks interesting. If that tempting item is potentially dangerous, such as a lighter or a kitchen knife, serious injury can occur. Taking the time to baby proof every room in your home can help reduce the risk that your child will become a victim of an accident in the home.
Step 1
Cut long cords on draperies or blinds. Long cords pose a strangulation risk for young children. Use scissors to trim cords to the shortest length that still allows normal operation of draperies or blinds but keeps the cords out of baby's reach. Tie off the ends of the cut cords.
Step 2
Put small items out of reach of your child. Parenthood.com recommends using a cardboard toilet paper roll to determine which items to place out of reach. Items that fit in the roll should be moved because these items pose a choking risk if swallowed.
Step 3
Place lighters, matches, knives and other sharp objects out of sight in a locked drawer or a drawer with a childproof lock.
Step 4
Install toddler gates at the top and bottom of stairs to prevent falls. The American Academy of Family Physicians cautions against using gates with wide slats, due to the possibility that children will become trapped between the slats.
Step 5
Cover electrical outlets with childproof outlet covers to prevent your child from inserting objects into the outlets.
Step 6
Lock medication, cleaning supplies, furniture polish, vitamins, laundry detergent and any other potentially dangerous, poisonous products in a high cabinet.
Step 7
Install window guards to prevent falls. While screens may keep bugs out of your house, they are not strong enough to prevent a child from falling. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends moving chairs and furniture away from windows so children can’t climb up on these items to reach a window.
Step 8
Attach heavy furniture, such as television cabinets, bookshelves, dressers and armoires, to the wall to prevent your child from climbing on these items and pulling them down on top of himself.
Tips and Warnings
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping your child in a high chair or playpen when she is in the kitchen with you. Keeping your child restrained will allow you to cook or clean without worrying about the safety of your child.
- Don’t assume that a childproof cap is enough to prevent your child from swallowing pills. Keep all medications on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet, even if the bottle contains a childproof cap. If the cap is not placed correctly on the bottle, your child may be able to pry it off.
Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Toilet paper roll
- Childproof lock
- Childproof outlet covers
- Window guards
