Baby Proofing Your Home - Baby Safety Tricks For Effective Babyproofing

Baby Proofing Your Home - Baby Safety Tricks For Effective Babyproofing

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Unfortunately, more than four million children find themselves in the hospital each year as a result of home accidents. The good thing is 90% of these accidents has been avoided. Nevertheless there is no alternative to vigilant supervision, proactive childproofing will go along way towards preventing needless accidents. As the child explores, teach him what's safe and what's off-limits.

Employing the data of child safety expert Kimberlee Mitchell, experienced mother of two toddlers and owner of Boo Boo Busters Professional Babyproofing Service, below is a set of recommended childproofing tricks for every home.

How To Develop a Baby Safe Home Environment

The lowest priced and quickest solution to babyproof should be to limit entry to certain elements of the home which can be neither safe nor befitting babies. The garage, laundry room, loft, terrace, office, gym, utility room, craft room, rooms being built, etc. should be "off limits" for babies and may be secured with door locks. Top door and interior garage door needs to have flip locks so child doesn't need access to outdoors.

Common Hazards in most Home

Some household dangers are obvious and the like might be more elusive. Albeit you'll find numerous dangers common to all households, these are easily rectified once recognized.

Electrical:

Cover all outlets, power strips and old exposed wires. Engaged outlets with a cord plugged in and play areas (nursery, play room, lounge) really should have sliding plate covers or even a big box outlet pay for oversized plugs on every exposed outlet. Push plugs may be used in less accessible areas only if the plugs are very a hardship on a grown-up to remove. A determined child and/or a set of twins, can eliminate the push plugs given sufficient time.

Use cord control kits to prepare and house all wires.

Tipping:

Anchor all armoires, shelving units, dressers, etc. or appliances (i.e. TV, VCR, computer, etc.) which could topple onto child due to climbing or pulling. When drawers are open simultaneously the device, however sturdy, becomes front heavy and tips easily with weight of toddler on open drawer.

Earthquakes are one other good reason to secure heavy furniture to wall stud.

Falls:

Install window guards with emergency release latches on all windows on second level. Screens usually are not babyproofing devices. Watch out for toy stacking. Children will stack up everything to get yourself a view outside. Move furniture faraway from half walls where child can climb up and fall over. Consider having Plexiglas installed to increase dangerous pony walls.

Mount safety gate at stair top and bottom. Professional babyproofers offer top quality gates, extensions, custom mount kits for wood and wrought iron banisters. Pressure gates are certainly not recommended. If banister posts tend to be than 3" apart, put in a barrier.

Install custom cut Plexiglas on stair banisters and decks that are no to code (2 1/2 inches wide) or if there are decorative embellishments on banister which will work as a foothold to get a climbing child.

Be certain all rugs and mats have non-skid bottoms to avoid slipping.

Never leave infant unattended on changing table or bed

Never let child use stairs unattended.

Chemical:

Move all chemicals (including cleaning utility caddy, various beauty and childcare accessories and alcohol) to some high locked cabinet.

Install magnetic child safety locks (Tot Loks) on all accessible drawers and cabinets that have these toxic items. They're 100% kid proof.

No unsupervised entry into garage and laundry room.

CO detectors ought to be attached to each amount of home near sleeping quarters.

Plants:

Discover which plants in your home and yard are poisonous. Landscapers commonly use White Oleander, and that is highly toxic. If you have a plant involved, cut off a sprig, input it inside a zip lock bag and grow it to local plant nursery because of their input.

Pets:

Keep all pet doors closed off when child is present.

Pets run through door and knock over child and/or child can escape to the outside via the door, which is at their eye level and quite inviting.

Never allow your child access to an animal you don't know is great with children. Don't allow child to hug dog or kiss its face. Don't bring young kids to dog parks. Keep child faraway from pack of fast running dogs.

Choking/Strangulation:

Something that will fit inside an empty cardboard mouthwash roll is often a choking hazard.

Replace all old door stops that have removable rubber tips with one piece door stops as the small rubber tip is really a choking hazard.

Do a visual safety sweep of home every day before child wakes to make sure all small objects are picked up off floor.

Watch out for older children's toys that could be choking hazards. Use locked storage bins for small pieces.

Install a peg rack on wall to hang purses, coats, bags, backpacks, etc. to hold out of reach.

Install blind cord cleats and wrap all dangling cords to disallow strangulation.

Water:

Stay away from the most popular drowning hazard and have a swimming pool fence, cover or net installed over everything pools and spas.

When swimming with baby or small child constantly be sure these are within arm's distance and Be aware. Being engrossed in a very conversation with someone while "watching your child" is very dangerous.

Babies can fall under toilet head first and not be capable of getting out so make sure to install toilet locks.

After it rains do a visual safety sweep of the yard to consider planters, buckets or water tables with pooled water and dump against each other.

Never leave the little one unattended in or around water.

Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid risk of scalding.

Humans:

Use back burners in kitchen and turn pot handles in.

Parents make practice of holding handrail when you use stairs when carrying child.

Keep doors to "off limits" rooms pulled closed.

Watch out for elderly or older children's non-safe habits about household. They'll unintentionally leave medicines out, drop pills, leave doors/cabinets/drawers open, etc. You can educate all your family members members to be mindful of the unsafe habits but by the end of waking time the newborn's safety factors are still your responsibility.

Be vigilant about supervising your son or daughter. It is possible to babyproof your home just like a safety fortress but there's no alternative to your constant attention.

Switch off the television if you are not watching it together with your child. This system might be child-safe however the commercials may not. There are several pretty terrifying things on TV that will not physically harm your baby but tend to cause harm. See your pediatrician relating to this topic to learn more.

A VIRTUAL Home SAFETY EVALUATION:

The subsequent is often a room-by-room walk-through associated with an average family home. Remember that our homes just weren't designed for the protection of a baby or child planned. Each residence has special features that are unique and also common safety challenges. Below is a report on solutions to common safety hazards within most homes:

Kitchen

Install magnetic child safety locks (Tot Loks) on all accessible drawers and cabinets that have toxic items (i.e. cleaning utility caddy, alcohol, vitamins, plastic bags, etc.)

Gate off kitchen area.

Keep child in high chair or pack and play during meal preparation.

Latch all other drawers and cabinets. We recommend babyproofing for safety first and foremost, however additionally it is a matter of convenience. In case you choose, keep one cupboard with Tupperware lids unlocked for child gain access to but make certain they can not make use of this open cabinet or drawer as a step to climb up onto counter. Your child is probably not able to reach certain drawers now but he surely will quickly.

Never let child play with pots or pans since it sends a bad message to child these are toys. When child sees the same pots/pan on stove top he can need to grab his familiar "toy."

Consider latching all appliances child can access such as the refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor, dumbwaiter and oven.

Keep all appliances on counter unplugged and hide electrical cords.

Don't hang dish towels on oven door as baby can pull towel and bring the door into the bridge of his nose.

Use back burners on stove and install stove guard and knob covers if child has use of them.

Avoid the use of small or breakable refrigerator magnets as is also choking hazards.

Avoid leaving knives, scissors, coffee mug, etc. from counter as child will grab at what you could get a handle on off their vantage.

Bathrooms

No unsupervised entry into bathroom.

Use safety locks on door at all times.

Install toilet locks in order to avoid child from drowning and throwing objects in.

Latch all cabinets.

Move wastebasket under sink behind a latched cabinet door or use a covered receptacle.

Turn hot water heater down to 120 degrees to avoid scalding.

Always check hot and cold levels on the inner wrist previous to putting baby involved with it.

Never leave a youngster in bath unattended.

Never leave filled tub unattended and drain tub immediately after use. Children can wander in and drown.

Use no-slip mat to avoid slipping and a spout cover to stop scalding and cuts.

Remove all electrical appliances from bathroom where child bathes.

Living Room/Family Room

Eliminate baby's use of fireplaces, wood stoves and spas using gates developed for this reason. If gates will not work with fireplace use specially designed fireplace lock on glass accordion doors and install hearth padding around edges of hearth to avoid child from falling into it.

Remove gas key from fireplace gas gauge and store in high place.

Anchor all items which are tipping hazards.

Anchor TVs.

Remove all items (torchiere lamps, freestanding coat racks, statues, etc.) from home until child is older.

Cover end tables, coffee tables, countertops, and low dressers furniture corners and edges with cushioning devised for this purpose.

Decks

No unsupervised access to decks. Watch out for you child stacking toys/object to see over railing.

Put in a Plexiglas or net barrier when there is a lot more than 2 inches between railing posts.

Put decals on sliding glass doors at baby's eye level, so she or he doesn't come across them.

Always maintain baby away when through the grill. Hearthgates work effectively for this purpose.

Do not use deck furniture to reduce risk of climbing.

Always lock all doors resulting in decks.

Nursery

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Safety Council along with the American Academy of Pediatrics have the following helpful safety strategies for your kid's nursery.

ALWAYS place your infant to sleep on his / her back. This greatly cuts down on the risk from SIDS (Cot death) or suffocation. Since American Academy of Pediatrics recommended back-sleeping 5 years ago, SIDS deaths in america have declined by 38%.

Remove all soft bedding-pillows, comforters, blankets and stuffed animals-from the crib to further reduce risk of suffocation. Rather than blanket, dress baby in a very sleep sack or sleeper.

Ensure the crib itself meets current safety standards. This means:

1. The slats are not any wider than 2 3/8" apart

2. The mattress is firm-not soft (foam or coil - your preference)

3. There isn't a gap between mattress and crib walls. Two fingers importance of space is just too big much.

4. Corner posts are level with all the height with the end panels (just 1/16" higher at most)

5. There won't be any decorative cut-outs inside headboard or footboard.

6. Top rails, when raised, have reached least 26" above the mattress support in the lowest position.

7. Hardware is secure-no loose or broken screws or pieces. Recheck periodically.

8. Drop sides can not be accidentally released by the child. (According to the National Safety Council, the crib sides should require two separate steps to produce. If this describes a one step process, it ought to have to have a minimum force of 10 pounds to release.)

9. Look for a JPMA safety certification seal on newly manufactured cribs.

10. Top rails needs to be paid by teething guards.

Keep blind cords, curtain pulls, dcor, electrical cords and mobiles away from baby's reach.

Maintain a cool room temperature provide a recommended range in order to avoid overheating.

Place child's crib from any way to obtain draft.

Be sure baby's fitted sheet is secured for the mattress and will not pop loose.

Place a baby monitor in the nursery far from child's reach.

Consider purchasing a special crib mattress that circulates air around baby. This can help prevent the "rebreathing" of skin tightening and, which can be considered to be a number one reason behind SIDS.

If you are using bumper pads, get them to tightly secured for the sides from the cribs. Trim excess ties or straps. Straps needs to be loose, easy to push right down to mattress and not hung through to any hardware. You wouldn't like your youngster to obtain a foothold on bumper in order to climb out.

When child is sitting upright remove bumper pads and all other animals or pillows minimizing crib mattress to lowest position.

When the the top of crib rails are under three-fourths your kid's height or they're 36 inches tall, you need to turn to your child bed.

When you have a child who climbs from the crib prior to the above point, you should consider employing a crib tent. Some parent's can't stand it nevertheless the potential alternatives are far worse.

Install finger guards on fast-closing doors.

Anchor all furniture, cover all outlets (even ones behind crib), and install locks or window guards on all windows.

When baby is sitting upright remove all mobiles and almost any canopy over bed as they possibly can pose choking or strangulation hazards.

Tend not to place heavy object on shelves or hang pictures above crib.

Use earthquake putty on all objects placed on shelving. Use Velcro the secure base of pictures on walls - adhere to wall and back of frame and will also prevent it from falling and breaking during quake.

Use locks on sliding closet doors until baby can go in and out without pinching fingers or slamming causing glass doors to crack.

Pick-up room each night before going to sleep so in the event of an urgent situation you may get to your child quickly without incident.

When child is within toddler bed, use pressure gate in doorway to stop child from walking on house unsupervised during the night. Instruct child to demand you when he or she is awake each day.

Fire & Health Safety

Store fire escape ladders in each and every bedroom on second level and above.

Place working fire alarms in most bedroom and on every story please remember to evaluate them regularly. Day light savings time is a good marker to utilize look at your alarms bi-annually

.

Install deadly carbon monoxide detectors on each amount of home near sleeping areas.

Install natural gas detectors on each degree of home near sleeping areas.

Create and use a disaster plans. (ie. fire escape plan, earthquake plan, disaster plan.)

Purchase disaster preparedness kits.

Ensure all fire/smoke alarms are in working order.

Squeeze contact number from the poison control center close to the telephone. You will need to know your child's weight to treating a poisoning. Never use ipecac unless instructed with a professional to do this.

Learn first aid and CPR and maintain skills up-to-date.

About the Author:
How to Baby Proof a Fireplace

How to Baby Proof Stairs



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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