What people commonly do to prepare for the coming of their first baby is to set up the crib and buy baby clothes or diapers. But the rest of the house is often neglected and isn’t given much thought when it comes to preparing for a baby’s arrival. A study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that moms could only point out less than half of the potential hazards in a model home.
Having a baby or toddler is similar to having a ball of energy in your home. These children will want to play all day long and run around the house. But they don’t have the physical power yet to control their bodies entirely. Their motor skills have not developed, so falling and tumbling around happens often. One of the top 3 reasons children visit the ER is because of injuries sustained in the household.
Now, your job, as a parent, is to make sure your house is entirely safe for your child. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Here’s how to childproof your home to make it a safe place for your little toddler.
Mind the flooring
With the state of balance a child has, he’s bound to fall a few too many times a day. And when he does, the hardest impact is with the floor. Consider how safe your floor is for your child. The quick and easy way to childproof your flooring is to cover your floor with a soft carpet.
Consider the ground outside your home, too. Some tiles are prone to surface damage. And children can easily trip on unbalanced tiles. Have a concrete repair service in Utah fix that right away before it causes any accidents.
Install gates for stairs
Children love to crawl and climb. And the staircase is the perfect way to do that. They haven’t yet developed the motor skills to prevent themselves from falling. Even adults fall down the stairs now and then. Gates should be installed on both the bottom and top ends of your staircase to prevent accidents.
Keep appliances above reach
Make sure all your appliances, especially electrical ones, are out of reach of children. As much as possible, everything should be stored in high, covered places. Keep kitchen utensils and cutlery in a stored drawer. Mount your picture frames on the walls and hide fragile equipment.
Because your child is in the phase of developing baby teeth, they tend to chew on objects. It’s their way of relieving the itch that comes with growing teeth. This is completely normal. But make sure your child is chewing on edible goods and not wires or other hazardous objects.
Use safety caps for outlets
Because children tend to be curious, they like putting their hands into things. A common source of accidents and injuries is electrical outlets. So make sure all outlets are covered with safety caps or outlet protectors to keep your child from playing with them.
Another option would be to keep all appliances that are hazardous for children in a locked room they cannot access. Or mind where you let your child play by installing gates on off-limits places like the kitchen.
You might think that the outdoors is a dangerous place for your kids. But the real danger lies within the four corners of your home. Know how to childproof your house to prevent unforeseen and unwanted accidents from occurring.