Tips on Childproofing Your Home

Although you are very confident that you have done a good and thorough childproofing job, there is still a chance that you have missed something. Childproofing is a very essential step in reducing injuries at home and preventing a trip to your local Calallen, Texas emergency room.

It is best to childproof your home before your child can crawl or walk.

The risk of injury can be greatly reduced with the use of some child-safety devices. A lot of them are fairly inexpensive and easy-to-find. You can get more information about safety devices that can help lessen injuries at the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Here are some essential childproofing tips.

1. Get rid of anything poisonous

A lot of incidents that involve poisoning occur when caregivers or parents are at home, but not paying close attention. Keep the following items out of child’s reach:

• Laundry or dishwashing detergent
• All-purpose bleach and cleaners
• Toilet bowl cleaners and drain openers
• Nail polish remover, furniture polish, cosmetics, and perfume
• Things in your garage such as insecticides or gasoline
• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
• Alcohol

2. Get down to your child’s level

Try to think like a toddler. What do you see at their eye level? Viewing your home at their eye level will help you identify products or items that are hazardous to them.

• A trash bin that may contain old razor blades, spoiled food, or batteries
• A purse or container that might hold potential choking hazards or medicines
• Small objects on the floor, which can be choking hazards

3. Cover electrical outlets in your home

Outlet plates and covers will prevent possible electrocution and electric shock. Be sure that they are secure so that your child won’t be able to pull them out.

4. Use anchors

This will prevent furniture from tipping over and causing injuries to kids. Televisions, furniture, and bookcases can tip over; and attaching them to a wall or anchoring them to the floor can give added security in case your child attempts to climb onto them. 

5. Use cabinet locks, safety gates, and window guards

After you have successfully childproof your home, it’s now time to consider access. For example, windows should only be able to open three inches, or a window guard must be installed. Doing the following will help kids avoid rooms that might be more susceptible to injuries and accidents.

• Put cabinet locks on lower level cabinet doors
• Set up or install safety gates that can’t dislodge easily

Even if you are a very safety-conscious parent, injuries and accidents may still happen. Be ready for a family medical emergency by looking up your local Calallen, Texas emergency room. We are open 24/7 for your family.