How to Baby Proof Your Home

The four most important areas to child proof are the baby's crib, bathing areas, changing tables, and to make sure that there are gates around the house.

According to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, about two to two and a half million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year.
Most of this is because of a parents lack to child proof the home. These death and injuries are able to be prevented. Most parents do not know how to prevent these deaths. They are able to be prevented by childproofing the home. Whether you are parents now or you will be parents some day it is important for you to learn how to child proof effectively. As the mother of a 9 month old son, I have had extensive experience with childproofing my home. Today I am going to show you how to child proof your home!!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby gate
• Outlet covers
• Common sense

1. 
    

   The first and most important area to make sure is child proofed is your baby's crib. This is where your child will be spending most of his time. This is the one place where your baby will be right after being born. It is important that this area is safe for children who are newborn to children who are about to out grow the crib. Make sure that corner posts do not extend more that 1/16 inch about the top of the end panel. Corner posts can be catch points of items that are placed around child's neck or for clothes that are worn. Child may catch clothes on posts and hang or strangle himself. Crib slats should be no more that 2 3/8 inches in the space between. You should make sure that you cannot fit a pop can through the slats. If the slats are too far apart this could lead to entrapment and strangulation

2. 
    

   Bumper pad should be used correctly. They must fit around the entire crib and Tie, or snap, into place. They must Have ties in each corner, In the middle of each long side and On top and bottom edges. To prevent baby from becoming strangled by the ties trim off excess length after tying. Only use bumpers until baby is able to pull himself into standing position, then remove so that baby doesn't use them to try to climb out of the crib.

3. 
    

   Never use plastic bags as mattress covers. The plastic may cling to baby's face and suffocate him. Make sure that you remove and destroy all plastic wrapping materials.

4. 
    

   Water is the most dangerous thing for a child. Never leave you child alone, or even under the watch of a brother or sister when the child is in the bathtub. Bath rings are not intended as safety devices, They are intended as bath aides to help the child sit in the bathtub. Never leave the baby alone even when the baby is in a bath ring, Turning away for a second may result in baby drowning. All bath necessities should be placed by the bathtub before you put your baby in. Ignore the phone or doorbell when you baby is in the bathtub, your baby's life is more important. Only fill the tub with enough water to cover the baby's legs. This is enough water to efficiently bathe the baby. Babies can still drown in this little amount of water. All you need is enough water to cover the babies nose and mouth

5. 
    

   Make sure that you do not leave buckets with water around your baby when you are not around. Babies can pull themselves into a standing position and fall head first into the bucket which may result in drowning. Babies can drown in only a few inches of water, remember only enough to cover mouth and nose is needed

6. 
    

   Make sure toilet seat covers are always down and locked. Children have a curiosity of toilet and always try to look inside. If they lean in to far they may fall in and drown

7. 
    

   Most injuries involving changing tables occur when the child rolls of the table and falls. Make sure that your changing table has a safety strap. Most modern changing tables come with a strap. If it doesn't you can buy and install a strap easily. ALWAYS use the safety strap. Never leave your child unattended on the changing table. Make sure that everything you need is in arm's reach before you start changing your baby. In the second that it may take to turn to get a diaper or wipes, your baby can roll of the table and fall. It is good to have extra of what you need on a shelf under the changing table, just incase you need something extra, it is in arm's reach. Even if you are using a safety strap you cannot leave your baby unattended.

8. 
    

   Babies try to get into everything. In order to feel secure of your home you need to place baby gates in openings where you don't want your child to go through and locks and guards places you don't want your child to get into. Baby gates are very important. Use baby gates at the top and bottom of stairways to prevent falling. Use baby gates to prevent you child from entering dangerous areas of the house. Make sure that you choose the right type of baby gate. Make sure that the gate you use has a straight top edge and rigid bars or a mesh screen. Accordion style gates with small V shaped openings are dangerous and may lead to head entrapment. Make sure that the baby gate is securely anchored in the passage way. Children have pushed gates over. This has caused children to fall down stairs or enter dangerous areas of the house. Gates that are held up with expanding pressure bars should be installed with the bar on the side away from the child

9. 
    

   Make sure that there are locks on doors and that all dangerous areas are covered. Cabinets that contain dangerous chemicals, medicine, sharp objects or potential dangers to child must have a cabinet lock at all times. Doors leading to bathrooms, outside or dangerous rooms should have a child proof door knob. Electrical outlets must have outlet covers over them.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you lock cabinets that have chemicals in them also.