A free resource for parents from
by John Morrell See also: "Baby-Proofing" Your Kitchen The best way to prepare your house for a little one? Get on your hands and knees! That way you can get down to their perspective and see what they see. You won't believe the hazards you'll come across just by doing this. Childproofing a house can be daunting because it means looking out for dangers that otherwise might never occur to you. With a little patience and some common sense, however, it can be done. Tables and lamps: While taking that hands-and-knees tour, look for obvious hazards - a hard sweet or other small things a child may choke on under the sofa, etc. - as well as more subtle ones. Run your hand along the skirting or dado rail, where splintering could have occurred. Sand and repaint those areas. Fireplaces: Doors: Worktops: Dishwasher: Pet food dishes: Lid and cabinet locks: Water temperature: Door locks: Gates: Railings: Toy chests: Blinds: Beds/Cots: Night lights:
Tel: 01298 24761 Fax: 01298 27027 (10am - 4:45pm Mon-Fri) - Website: www.gnfc.org.uk
Childproofing Your Home
In the living room, low tables with sharp corners should be padded. Watch out for free-standing or 'standard' lamps. These offer quite a temptation for a child who may want to grab onto one and try to pull himself up. Unfortunately this type of lamp is usually not very sturdy and may fall down on top of your child. It may be best to store these lamps until your child is out of the toddler stage.
Electric outlets:
Anyone who's tried childproofing knows about electric socket covers. However, these won't guard against all threats. You'll often see one of the plugs covered; then the other has a lamp cord plugged into it. The child just has to pull the cord out to get to the outlet. I prefer using outlet covers that close automatically once something is unplugged. Speaking of lamps, when a bulb burns out, do you remove it and make a note on your shopping list to get a new one? Bad idea. You don't want a child to reach into the empty socket and turn the switch on. Leave the old bulb in place until you replace it.
The fireplace is always an area to watch. Move accessory sets with pokers and brushes out of the way. Remove matches or other fire starters. Use non-flammable bumpers along the sharp edges and corners of a raised stone hearth. Glass fireplace doors or a secure fire screen can help keep children away from the flames.In the kitchen
Using safety latches on cupboards and doors. The oven door, refrigerator door and broom cupboard should be the first task.
Don't leave handbags on a table or worktop, find a new place out of reach for young hands. Handbags can contain medication, sharp objects like tweezers or a nail file, and other things small enough to be swallowed. Clear worktops of electrical cords from items like toasters and blenders that could fall on the child if pulled.
Keep the door closed. Make sure forks and knives are pointed downwards.
It may be disconcerting for your cat or dog, but it's best to keep bowls of food and water and litter boxes out of reach, preferably in a garage or utility room that's inaccessible to the toddler.
Toilet lid locks are essential if you are to keep your child away from water. Select a good one, and make sure you install it properly. Always close and latch bathroom doors. It's also a good idea. experts say, to lock the medicine cabinet.General Home Safety
Hot water can be extremely dangerous. Set your water heater thermostat at low, or 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider loosening the bath hot water tap handle, allowing you to remove it when not in use. Install a full-length bath mat and a spout guard in the bath.
Bedroom and bathroom doors that can be locked from the inside could be a hazard. A child may go inside, close the door and lock it. Some locks are relatively simple to open by inserting a small screwdriver. It is a good idea to practice unspringing one from the outside - so you'll know how to do it in the event of an emergency. Bolt type locks pose more of a problem. They are simple for a child to operate but surprisingly hard to undo if you're on the wrong side! Consider using very small bolts, fastened on with small screws so that they will pull out when the door is given a hefty shove!
Safety Gates are often vital to the safety of a young child. The pressure-style gate is popular because with one hand you're able to lock it in place or pull it up. This type of gate is best in temporary situations when you have a child visiting for a little while. A swinging gate, in which a fixed jamb is screwed into both walls, is a better permanent solution. Avoid accordion-style folding gates, which can trap small fingers, or gates designed to contain pets. Try to secure the gate to a wall stud. Never anchor it to just the wallboard or plaster.
Railings for an open landing that looks down onto a ground floor or for a staircase, the space between the posts should be no more than 4 inches. For railings with wider spaces, sheets of clear plastic can be used to close them off. For occasional use, you could try netting.Bedrooms
An old toy chest might suit the decor, but make sure it has a lid that won't slam shut; consider replacing the hinges with spring-loaded ones.
Keep cords for blinds and curtains tied off out of reach from young hands.
Try to site children's beds or cots away from windows, mirrors and other glass items. Carefully examine older cots - they may have gaps between the posts wide enough for a child to get his or her head through. Also, remember that older cots may have originally been finished with a paint containing lead.
Use night lights with child-safe features. Look for night lights with completely enclosed light bulbs and safety tabs that help prevent children from removing the night light from the outlets. Cots:
Many of the safety devices featured in this article can be purchased
from UK company: Child Alert
Good News Family Care, Charis House, Hardwick Square East,
Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6PT
Fax: 08701 319152 (all other times)
return to list of free resources