What outdoor products do you offer on baby proofing? Explanation and information for selecting baby proofing products. Keeping babies and children safe outdoors involves more choices for parents, because...
Keeping babies and children safe outdoors involves more choices for parents, because different home environments will contain different types of risks for little ones.
Of course, drownings are a leading cause of death in children under five, and anyone with a pool needs to take a number of steps to baby proof the pool area. Invest in a good fence with a self-closing and self-locking gate. Use door or pool alarms, as long as you don't rely on them as a first or worse yet, only, line of defense. Make certain toys get put away after pool play time, so children aren't at risk of falling back into the pool while trying to retrieve things along the pool edge. Have proper rescue equipment, take child and infant CPR classes, and always make sure that children are supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
Fences need to be safe for little ones and not pose strangulation hazards. Things should not be stacked near fences to encourage climbing. They should be properly maintained and made of safe materials.
Keep swing sets and play yards well maintained and check them regularly for damage or wear. Loose screws can pose pinching, choking or collapsing hazards. Make sure the kids know the rules for playing on any equipment and that they are supervised at all times.
The natural world can pose risks to children's safety as well. Know the plants that reside in your yard and whether or not they can be toxic to children. Some of the most popular plants are the most deadly. For instance, "A plant like foxglove grows very commonly in Northern California. Digitalis heart medicine is made from foxglove and it's one of the ten most deadly plants in the world. A child ingesting a very small amount can cause death. It's important to know the different kinds of plants," says Mark Altman, baby proofing expert and owner/founder of The Childproofer.
Other natural risks include insect stings or ticks. Protect babies with insect repellent that is safe for use on children. Also, keep a well stocked first-aid kit and know how to treat common stings and bites.
Also, consider limit the time children spend unprotected in direct sunlight. In fact, find a good sunscreen that is appropriate for use on little ones and slather it on every time you head outdoors. Consider a sun shade over the sandbox or wading pool.
Always supervise outdoor play, even when your children are older arrange your home so that the play area outside is clearly visible from your kitchen. Keep a cordless or cell phone with you during outdoor play time so you won't be out of sight for any length of time.
Make sure that decks or balconies have safety netting and that no strangulation hazards are present. If there are stairs, protect toddlers with a safety gate. If open risers are used, remember they are a risk to children, as well.
The key is supervision of the children and monitoring the environment at all times, so that your whole family can enjoy the backyard together.
