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Children are curious by nature, so it’s only natural to assume that whatever they can get their hands into, they will. Often times, parents will wait until their children are crawling before they even think about child-proofing their homes. However, the best time to start childproofing a home is while the child is still inside its mother’s womb. The reason for this is simply, mother has nine whole months to casually go around the house looking for possible danger signs and nine whole months to purchase any necessary items.
And don’t think that just because you have placed your medicines and other hazardous waste products up high that your child will not be able to get into them. Once the child learns to climb, all bets are off. However, there is a wonderful solution out on the market called, "Tot Locks". "Tot Locks" are magnetic locks for cabinets and doors. The only way to open the cabinet or door, is to place a large magnetic key over the lock. The key can be safely stored by placing it on the top of your refrigerator.
Another great use for these locks if is you live in an earthquake or tornado state. Have you ever had something fall out the shelf and land on your head during one of these scary events? Or have you had dishes fly out the cabinet and break all over the floor? These locks will keep your cabinets and doors closed.
The best tip for child-proofing your home is to think like a curious child. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the floor. Start reaching for things and think about things that the child may use to pull herself up on. Think about things the child may fall on when learning to walk. If there is anything remotely dangerous, such as sharp corners, breakables, or sharp objects, move them immediately.
Here are some other great tips:
1. Store any and all hazardous materials in the garage in a locked cabinet.
2. Leave the cabinet under your sink for trash cans or trash bags.
3. Keep knives in a separate cabinet with a lock.
4. The only things you should store in your medicine cabinet are toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, and dental floss.
5. Store medications on a top shelf in the hall closet, with a lock on the doors.
6. Have a house alarm put in with an alarm that rings whenever the doors or windows are opened.
7. Cut the cords on your blinds so that a child cannot reach them and wrap the cord around the neck.
8. Do not place beds or cribs next to any window or blind.
9. Order shatter-proof windows for all your windows.
10. Beware of bunk beds. Children have been known to slip through the rails and hang themselves, as well as fall off the bed.
11. Buy only age appropriate toys.
12. If you have older children and younger children sharing the same room. Explain the importance of picking up small toys and placing them on a top shelf.
13. Wash the floors daily as crawlers often place their dirty hands in their mouths.
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