How to Childproof a House
Long before your child gets mobile, you’ll want to consider childproofing your house. When you childproof your house, you can help create a safer environment for your child to grow and explore. As your child begins to crawl and walk they will discover many dangers that you may not have even been aware of. You’ll quickly learn that the world looks much different from your child’s point of view and common household items may put your child in danger. To childproof your home, follow these simple tips.
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Things You'll Need
- Outlet covers
- Wall anchors
- Cabinet locks
- Cord winders
- Safety gates
- Stove knob guards
- Door knob covers
- Door stops
- Corner edges
Instructions
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Purchase a wide variety of childproofing items for your home. These items include outlet covers, wall anchors, cabinet locks,cord winders, safety gates, stove knob guards, door knob covers, door stops and corner edges.
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Install plastic outlet covers in all unused power outlets.
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Test all furniture for stabilility. Any furniture that seems unstable should be fastened to the wall using wall anchors.
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Use cabinet locks to keep children out of cabinets that hold chemicals, cleaners, sharp objects or other items that you do not want your child to play with.
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Use cord winders to gather and hold the excess cord from window blinds. Cords from blinds pose a dangerous strangulation hazard.
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Use safety gates to block off areas of the house you want to keep your child out of. When using safety gates on stairs, they should be hard mounted, rather than pressure mounted to provide maximum security.
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Place stove knob covers on your stove to prevent your child from being able to turn the stove on or off.
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Use door knob covers to prevent your child from accessing a room that may not be safe. Bathrooms and bedrooms are wise places to put door knob covers. On the doors to rooms where your child will have access, use a door stop to prevent your child from pinching his finger in the door.
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Use corner edges to cover sharp corners of tables. This will help protect your child if he were to fall into the corner of a piece of furniture.
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Crawl on the floor like a child and look for any other potential dangerous areas or items that you may have missed.
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Tips & Warnings
Turn water temperature down to 120 degrees throughout the house.
Be sure your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are working properly.
