Childproofing your home is important for the safety of your children. Tips for products and measures you need to take to protect kids and home.
You have been preparing for the birth of your baby for nine long months. You bought the car seat months ago and the baby's room has been ready for weeks, but is your home really safe for your baby? There are things that you can do to make your home safe for your baby and perhaps prevent a needless accident from happening.
All of the outlets in your home should have plug covers. These little plastic covers plug in the outlet and fit very tightly in the outlet so most children can not get them out easily. They are very inexpensive and can be purchased in most department stores.
Stairs should always have saftey gates up to keep the baby from falling down the stairs. A baby can be hurt very badly or even killed from falling down the stairs.
All household cleaners and poisons should be kept in a cupboard that is high enough that the baby can not reach it. Even dish soap can be very dangerous. You should also have syrup of ipicac in your home in case something is swallowed accidently by the baby. Always call the doctor before giving syrup of ipicac.
Post the phone numbers for the fire department, ambulance, and poison control by your telephone. If an emergency arises you do not want to waste precious time looking for a phone number.
In the kitchen, always remember to keep the handles turned toward the back of the stove out of baby's reach. Children should be taught to stay back away from the stove when adults are preparing meals.
Furniture should have rounded corners or be padded in case the baby falls into them.
If you have blinds in your home you should always keep the cords up high where the baby can not reach them. Children have strangled in these cords.
Peeling paint should be removed. Children can become very sick if they eat paint chips. In an older house the paint may have lead in it which can cause learning disabilities and serious medical problems in children.
Lighters and matches should be kept up where children can not reach them.
You should have a smoke detector on each floor of your home. In the event of a fire, having a minute or two extra can mean the difference between life and death. You can also obtain stickers from the fire department to place on the baby's window so in the event of a fire the firemen can locate the baby's room easily and quickly.
Watch your baby very carefully in the bathroom. A toilet seat lock is a good idea. Babies have fallen in and drowned in toilets.
Every home with a baby should have a first aid kit. The kit should contain such things as band-aids, an ice pack, syrup of ipicac, and gauze bandages. You can purchase the kit that is stocked for you or stock one for yourself. The first aid kit should be kept in a spot where it is readily available.
No safety measures can replace supervision. Children are quick and need to be watched constantly. It only takes a minute for an accident to occur.
