An Ultimate Guide To Effectively Childproof Your Home

If parents had their way, their children will always be safe. Not even a single scratch. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way. Even if we never take our eyes off our kids, bad things can still happen. Some parents would rather have their kids stay in the house, which to their mind is the safest place on earth. Well, it isn’t but there are ways to make it safer and more child-friendly.

Image via Pregnancy And Baby At Pinterest

For starters, let’s have a rundown of the dangers at home. Believe it or not,   children are more likely to be hurt at home than when they are outside or with strangers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the most common  “household injuries” for children between the ages of 1 and 4 are burns, drowning, choking, poisoning, or falls. These are things that can be prevented from happening if parents and guardians were extra cautious.

Supervision is the best way to ensure the safety of your kids but sometimes even the most watchful parents can’t just seem to get their kids out of harm’s way every second of the day. Keep your sanity and get some peace of mind knowing that you have done everything to childproof your home.

Before the baby arrives

The best time to check home or condo safety and the possible red flags is before the baby is born. Once the baby arrives, it will be an understatement to say that your hands will always be full. So before your home turns into a baby arena, check everything from the nursery, living room, and even the car.

Prepare the baby’s nursery ahead of time. Position the crib away from windows, heaters, lamps, cords, and any décor that might fall. Make sure that the mattress is firm and avoid pillows, comforters, and stuffed toys. Slats should not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart and corner posts are 1/16 inch or shorter. Forget decorative stuff. For the changing table, make sure it has a safety strap, table is sturdy, and put a carpet or rug below in case of fall.

For the rest of the house, install smoke detectors and keep a fire extinguisher. Cover sharp furniture edges with padding and bumpers. Assemble a first aid kit for babies. Childproof door locks on all cabinets containing chemicals, glass, and other sharp objects. Install window guards and move all climbing furniture away from windows.

When the baby starts crawling and walking

Baby-proofing your home or your condo gets more complicated when the baby starts crawling and taking his first steps. As soon as the baby starts pulling himself up, move the crib mattress to its lowest position. When the baby starts crawling, he will start reaching for everything so make sure electrical cords and outlets are out of the child’s reach. Area rugs should be secured with nonskid backing and repair loose tiles to prevent tripping. All wobbly furniture that can topple on a child must go. Use doorstops to protect the child’s fingers. Keep him away from stairs or fasten gates with vertical slats.

Choose toys that do not have extra small details and knickknacks like buttons and beads that a baby could choke on. Don’t use place mats temporarily because babies will just try to pull them and everything on them. Keep trash cans inaccessible and keep him out of the kitchen. Don’t carry hot food and drinks and your baby at the same time and don’t hold your baby while cooking.

It’s bath time!

Drowning is the leading cause of injury death for those 1 to 4 years of age according to the CDC. Remember that the baby can drown in as little as an inch of water so bathing them needs extra care.

The most effective tip to ensure the safety of your kids is to never leave them unsupervised especially in the tub even if you have bathtub rings for babies to sit in. For infants, use an infant bathtub with contours to make it slip-resistant. Put non-slip mats in the tub and on the floor next to the tub. It is also nice to have soft covers for bathtub spout.

After bathing, put them in comfortable clothing, preferably baby clothes without drawstrings.

Baby’s day out

Child safety should extend beyond the four corners of your home. As early as possible, anticipate the need to be safe when they are outside their crib. Install car seat properly in rear-facing position in the middle of the backseat. Keep them there until they are at least two years old.

Pick a stroller that is stable, with a wide wheelbase, and the seat low in the frame. Belts should be reliable with a 5-point harness (shoulder, between legs, waist belts). You should be able to steer it with one hand and with handlebars at waist level or just slightly lower.

Ensuring home security is one way to make sure your baby is safe. The trick in effective baby-proofing is to acknowledge that he is moving and operating in an entirely different level - floor level. He doesn’t see things the way you do so don’t ignore the small things. Be vigilant, be alert, be aware of the risks and don’t let your child out of your sight as much as you can.