Childproofing your home is a smart way to protect your children from injuries and accidents. Learn how to make your home safe by using the tips offered by the Norton Center for Children’s Prevention & Wellness. These tips include: finding and removing small items from reach, keeping small objects out of reach, and more.
Safety locks
Safety locks are an important part of childproofing your home. They help keep your child from getting into cupboards, drawers, and appliances. Choosing the right safety locks for these items will help you prevent your child from suffering an accidental injury. Pampers Parents conducted a survey to find the best locks for homes.
Door latches are another important aspect of childproofing. These locks clip onto the top of doors and grip the frame to keep the door open. This will prevent children from reaching in and pinching their fingers. They can also help protect small pets from getting trapped. These childproof locks can be very easy to install. They also lock automatically so you won’t have to worry about your child accidentally unlocking the door.
Door lever locks are another common home childproofing measure. This child lock features an easy-to-use design with a simple, accessible button. These locks are compatible with most standard door lever handles.
Anchoring furniture
Choosing and installing anchors to secure furniture in your home is a simple process. Most anchors will come with hardware to secure them to the wall. Some will also require specific tools such as hammers, screw drives, and drills. Using a tape measure can also help you ensure the proper placement of the anchors.
When childproofing your home, you should anchor any furniture that is heavy, such as dressers and chests. This will prevent the furniture from tipping over and injuring a child. Additionally, heavy items such as flat-screen televisions should be out of the child’s reach.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, one child dies every two weeks from furniture tip-over accidents. Many of these accidents involve furniture that has not been properly secured. Furniture that can easily tip over is especially dangerous for young children. Luckily, there are many simple, inexpensive ways to prevent these accidents. The “Anchor It!” campaign from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission aims to draw attention to the dangers of falling household furniture.
Stove-knob covers
Stove knob covers are a useful tool for childproofing your home. They come in five-packs and help keep your children and pets safe. They’re also useful for people with Alzheimer’s disease. They come with instructions to install them. Once installed, these stove knob covers should stay securely on the knob.
These childproof covers are easy to install. They fit over the knobs of gas and electric stoves. Installation takes less than a minute. The covers are secured to the stove knobs using the five-pair adhesive that comes with them. This prevents your child from turning the knob and possibly causing a burn. They also do not interfere with the appearance of your kitchen range.
Stoves and ovens are among the leading causes of burns among young children. Child-resistant stove knob covers such as Safety 1st’s Clear View stove knob covers can help prevent burns and accidental accidents. These covers are made from heat-resistant plastic, but they’re clear enough for an adult to see if the knobs are off.
Stove knob covers come in various sizes and styles. Be sure to measure the knobs and find one that fits perfectly. It’s important to get the right size because one that is too large could rattle when a baby grips it and fiddles with it. A cover that is too small might not fit over the knobs and can lead to a burn.
Cordless window coverings
Childproofing your home is an important part of child safety. Corded window coverings are a major hazard because they can be snagged and yanked by curious little hands. Children often try to reach the cord or hang on it, and this can result in a serious injury. It’s best to avoid window coverings with cords altogether.
Besides being dangerous, cords can cause tangles or tassels, which are a choking hazard for small children. They’re also difficult for little hands to untangle. This can lead to severe injuries or even death. Therefore, it is best to use child-proof window coverings that have cordless cords.
In addition to using cordless window coverings, you should also consider removing any furniture that’s near a window. For example, you should move cribs and beds away from windows, and move furniture to the opposite wall. You should also remove any furniture that is near or under a window.
If you choose window coverings with cords, you should secure them to the wall or floor. You should also check for the Best for Kids certification label on window coverings. In case you already have window coverings with cords, you can retrofit them with free kits to ensure safety.
Oven-door locks
Oven-door locks are a safe and inexpensive way to prevent young children from pulling the door open and getting burned. They are heat resistant and can be installed without any tools or special installation. They should be installed in a location where they will be out of reach of children. Stove knobs should also be placed out of reach of children.
Ovens and stoves are dangerous for kids, and they can cause serious injuries. You can buy locks for these appliances that cost $9 to $23 and cover the knobs. The locks also prevent children from tampering with the oven. They are available in a variety of colors and can be mounted with an adhesive or screwdriver.
Oven door locks can prevent a child from accidentally opening the oven door while it’s still hot. You should choose a childproof lock that’s easy to install and can be opened by an adult. These locks are also some of the least expensive childproofing products, costing between $9 and $40.
Corner guards
Corner guards are a simple and effective childproofing solution. These flexible, clear plastic covers can be easily attached to furniture and countertops. They’re non-toxic, latex and phthalate-free, and will keep your child’s bum cushioned. You can buy corner guards online or from major retail stores such as Walmart and JCPenney.
A corner guard can be repositioned and reused to fit new furniture. It’s also removable if you need to add extra protection to a taller piece of furniture. These inexpensive home childproofing products are durable, so they will last for years. Regular cleaning and maintenance will keep them in good shape for a very long time. This makes them great value for money. Many parents include these protective products in their home childproofing checklist.
For longer perimeters, you can purchase corner guards made of foam. These are made to withstand shock, and they are usually factory tested.
Keeping kids out of dangerous areas
As a parent, it is your job to keep your children safe and out of dangerous areas. You should always remember that a child cannot see the dangers around them. This means that you need to look at your house from their perspective. For example, it is possible for a baby to topple into the toilet. Another danger is when a child turns on the hot water faucet. This can cause them to be burned. Also, many items in the bathroom are poisonous. You should install latches and locks to keep kids out of these areas.
A good childproofing checklist will include locks, electrical outlets, window locks, and detectors. Also, make sure to check high risk areas, like the bathroom and kitchen. In addition, you should make sure that every single cabinet is closed and child-proof. You can also add locks to trash can lids to prevent them from being opened by a child.
Children are naturally curious and can see danger in every day objects. This makes it impossible to completely protect the house. Therefore, you must use protective devices that are durable and easy to operate by adults. You should research the devices before buying them. If possible, test them in other people’s homes to make sure they work. If you’re unsure of what type of device to choose, check out our five-step checklist before making a decision.
