While supervision is the best way to keep your children safe, even the most dedicated parents cannot watch their children every second of the day. Guns, medications, matches and knives are just a few of the dangers that might lurk inside cabinets and drawers in your home. By blocking off children's access to areas containing hazardous items and setting firm, consistent consequences, you can minimize their chances of experiencing an injury.
Step 1
Crawl around on your hands and knees to evaluate the cabinets and drawers on your child's level. This can help you determine which cabinets and drawers he can easily reach as well as which ones contain household cleaners and medications.
Step 2
Move all toxic substances or hazardous items, such as cleaning products, vitamins, medications and knives, to higher, locked cabinets. Dr. William Sears, author of "The Baby Book," urges parents to remember that toddlers can climb. Simply moving objects out of reach will not necessarily protect him from poisoning, making locks critical.
Step 3
Place safety locks on drawers and cabinets. While these locks work best for babies ages 6 to 25 months, according to Anne Altman, a childproofing consultant and contractor in Santa Rosa, California, she recommends leaving them on well beyond that age. This is because the locks represent consistent limits that children already recognize and respect.
Step 4
Leave one cabinet or drawer unlocked and designate it as belonging to your child. Stock it full of unbreakable pots and pans and plastic dishes so that your child can safely explore a cabinet or drawer while you work in the kitchen.
Step 5
Purchase an adjustable safety gate that you can move to help keep your toddler or baby out of areas with unsecured cabinets and drawers when you cannot adequately supervise him in these areas. Bring the gate with you when you travel so that you can control his access to parts of your hotel room or to areas of grandma's house.
Tips and Warnings
- The South Texas Poison Center recommends using child-resistant containers for your medications when possible. While these containers will not take the place of adequate childproofing, they can delay your child's access to dangerous medications.
- Keep guns and firearms outside of your house if at all possible. If you need to keep them in your house, the American Academy of Family Physicians advises storing the guns separately from the bullets in a secure gun safe.
Things You'll Need
- Safety locks
- Safety gate
