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Tips for Safety In Your Home
We all know that it’s important to make sure our homes are safe for our babies and toddlers, but as the years go on and our toddlers grow into children who talk, reason and interact with us, we sometimes may forget to be on guard in our homes; to make sure our home is still safe.
If you find yourself suddenly noticing small risks to your children around the house, then a recap of safety in the home would probably prove useful.
Image by Tom Carmony
Here are some things to check on in your home to make sure your children (as well as toddlers & babies) are safe:
In the kitchen:
Are knives kept high/out of reach?
Are plastic bags/sandwich packets kept out of reach?
Do you keep pot and pan handles turned inwards when you cook?
Are chairs and stools kept away from the stove?
Are eating utensils like knives, scissors, cutlery kept in a locked/out of reach drawer?
Is your medicine chest lockable? This goes for vitamins too.
Are detergents kept in a lockable cupboard?
Are appliance cords out of reach?
Do your cupboards have latches to keep them closed?
Does your fridge have a latch to keep curious toddlers out, or to prevent them from closing themselves inside?
Has your baby outgrown his/her high chair? – can they kick one that attaches to a table, off the table while in it,
or climb out of/stand up in a high chair?
Are appliances kept unplugged when not in use?
Do you have safeguards on your stove plate knobs?
Bathroom:
Are plugs put out of reach when not in use, to avoid toddlers filling up the bath on their own?
Is your geyser’s thermostat set to a lower temperature to prevent burns?
Does your toilet have a lid-lock?
Are sharp objects such as razor blades kept in a locked cupboard?
Are all hair care & beauty products kept in a locked cupboard?
Do you have a non-slip mat at the bottom of the bath?
Bedrooms:
Is your cot mattress firm and does it fit perfectly in the cot?
Are window blinds/curtain cords kept out of reach/away from cots/toddler beds?
Are cots/toddler beds free of large teddies/soft pillows?
Do toy boxes have lid buffers to keep from slamming shut on little fingers?
Do you remove drawstrings from baby/toddler clothing?
Are teddies/toys free of small/removable parts?
Does the nappy changing table have a safety belt?
Is your cot/toddler bed mattress protector made of cotton, and not plastic?
Are gaps between burglar bars on windows/stair gates/cot bars small enough to ensure baby/toddlers don’t get
their head trapped inbetween?
Are all lamps far from cots/beds/curtains?
Outdoors:
Do you supervise/teach your children safety around pets, such as dogs?
Have you removed any poisonous plants from the garden?
Are all ladders packed away when not in use?
Does your pool have a high, unclimbable fence/safety net?
If you have playground equipment such as swings, slides, etc. is there soft padding beneath them to
soften falls?
Other handy tips:
Change your telephone for a cordless one so you don’t have to leave your kids unattended to answer the phone.
Put plastic buffers on all sharp edges of furniture.
Put smoke detectors in your home, especially in bedrooms.
Keep a first aid kit in your home, with instructions in case of an accident/emergency.
Keep a list of emergency and family numbers near your phone/on the fridge.
Go on a first aid course and learn how to do CPR.
Teach toddlers and older children how to take care with/around babies and younger children.
Chris Mayhew says
Thanks for the really in-depth advice. I find that because children are always exploring the world around them it’s best to create a space in which they can do this without any chance of hurting themselves. This could include child safety mats and soft furnishings.
Kita says
Great tips and reminders you have to be very careful even when you think they are old enough to know better. Stopping by from Sharefest
Otilia says
Fantastic advice!
Visiting from Monday Parentng PIN It party.
http://pinterest.com/romanianmum/
Cat (Yellow Days) says
Great reminders, those risks seem to constantly change as my boys grow and can access different things. Thanks for linking up to the Monday Parenting Pin-it Party.