Childproof Your House to Keep Your Baby Safe at Home

It is always a good time to step up your childproofing efforts to make your house a safe place for your baby to freely roam. With your baby graduating from crawling to starting to walk, the child safety hazards are mounting, and you’ll have to take your childproofing efforts literally to newer heights. Unintentional injury is very common among children in the U.S., fortunately, prevention (take proper safety measures) can eliminate almost all of these injuries. Household injuries are a major reason kids under 3 visit the E.R. each year.

Here are some tips on how you can childproof your home:

Living Room- TV should be mounted securely on the wall, candles and matches should be out of reach as your kid might accidentally light a match and start a fire, cover fireplace. Check if power strip is exposed, glass table is unprotected as table edges can be dangerous for a little kid learning how to walk, small toys are lying around (it can cause fatal choking), etc.

Kitchen- Kitchen is a place full of risks so it should be properly gated, remove stove knobs, lock dishwasher, microwave should be out of reach. Check if oven is easy to open (your child can scald himself/herself, could also hit her head with the oven door), small appliances are accessible, refrigerator isn’t secured, cutlery is reachable (store in an above-the-counter cabinet).

Bedroom- Set the crib up safely, windows should have a guard and window blinds should be cordless. Check if crayons are lying scattered (your baby can put it inside the mouth), if dresser isn’t secure, etc.

Bathroom- Make sure tub faucet is covered, door can’t shut since fingers and thumbs are the most common types of amputations in kids. Check if toilet is open as your toddler can stick his head in, if contact lens case is on the counter, pills aren’t locked away, toiletries are within reach, hair dryer is plugged in, etc.

You should also install smoke detectors on every level of your house, install covers on electrical outlets, place cushions on the corners of furniture, secure large appliances and furniture to the wall, check the floor regularly for small items and toys like marbles, balls, small magnets, etc. that younger kids can choke on.

When it comes to choosing child care East Hanover, NJ center, make sure the center uses all standard childproofing techniques.