How to Make a Home Childproof With Hidden Devices
If it’s time to childproof, but you can’t stand the site of all those childproofing gizmos. What’s a design-conscious parent to do? Check out these great childproofing tips that focus on invisible ways to keep kids safe.
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Adjust the water temperature. This invisible change will prevent burns in kids and adults, and will save power, too. Make sure your water heater thermostat is set at 120 degrees or below.
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Use the back burners and turn pot handles in. This isn’t really baby proofing, but if you want to minimize the safety gates and kitchen proofing, this simple trick can prevent many injuries.
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Decorate without using tablecloths. You might set your coffee mug out of reach, but if you have placed it on a tablecloth, a curious toddler can pull it right off. This also applies to candles placed on runners and other decorative cloths under lamps.
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Give window treatments that involve cords or other strangulation hazards the heave-ho. Miniblinds can be a major hazard when there are little ones around. Some curtains are also a bit risky. If possible, secure any pull cords up high, or choose window treatments such as plantation shutters or shades that don’t require them.
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Display breakables and valuables on higher shelves and place more touch-friendly objects on lower shelves. This is sometimes easier said than done, but it is worth the trouble and helps avoid the dreaded “no-nos.” It’s a great tip for grandparents who don’t want to pack their treasures away but want their grandkids to feel free when visiting.
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Buy Tot-Locks for cupboards. I won’t kid you: these magnetic locks are a pain to install (you’ll have to break out the drill and screwdriver), and opening them takes a little getting used to; however, these things are terrific! They are invisible, and you cannot open them without the “key.” I like these much better than all other forms of cabinet locks, because kids cannot get the cabinet open at all, so they don’t have any room to pinch their fingers. Keep the magnet keys all over the place, and you’ll always have one handy.
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Use anti-tip devices to earthquake proof. Anti-tip devices abound, and they are great for childproofing purposes. Bookshelves and file cabinets have crushed many curious children who were on them. Most anti-tip apparatuses go behind large furniture items, so you cannot see them at all.
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Check plants. Some plants are very dangerous for children (and pets), and others are relatively safe. Find out what you have in your home and place any that are not safe in a secure location, or give them away.
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Use clear shields to make balconies and banisters safer. These come in full sheets or in tiny grated plastic grates. Choose the clear ones, and no one will know they are there unless they are within a foot or so. Even then, these do not look bad.
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Use wire guards. These are a great decorative idea for any home. They come in strips and run along the floorboards, hiding any visible wires.
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Put safety covers on power strips. Safety covers snap on top of power strips and remove the temptation (and the ability) to pull cords out or to play with the on/off switch. They also make the strip look neater and less cluttered.
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Fix your outlets. There are many ways to make outlets safer, and part of choosing is aesthetic preference. Many people use the most basic, inexpensive outlet plugs--whether or not they are doing so for childproofing purposes--because they simply look more streamlined. There are also alternative outlet covers that have a slide mechanism so that you cannot put anything in them without a bit of effort--effort that is too great for toddlers to master. Some of these can be expensive, but they look very nice.
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Secure the poisons. Investigate every liquid, powder and pill in your house. Make sure you know what can be toxic to a child and lock it up. Better yet, replace your cleaning products with less-toxic ones, such as the new Simplicity cleaners. If you are not sure, you can call the poison control center. When in doubt, lock it up!
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Examine your bathrooms. Unfortunately, toilets can be a major hazard, and most toilet locks are quite visible. Sometimes, they’re adult-proof, too, especially for guests who don’t know how to work the contraptions. For bathrooms, your best bet may be a closed door and a watchful eye.
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Evaluate your stairways, which are another potential hazard that can be hard to childproof without unsightly gates. One option is to make sure the stairs and the floor below have padded carpet. Another option is to have custom gates made that match the banister. While this is expensive and visible, it often looks fabulous. Observation and stair training are another option, but this is a bit more parent-intensive.
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