Child Proofing Your Home

Children are always getting up to mischief. And that's why it is important that your home is child proof. Below is a list of rooms and to make them save for your chid to run about.

Bathroom:
Install toilet locks. These locks will prevent the toilet lid from being lifted by young children.

Remove sharp utensils and appliances from the bathroom. Razors, scissors, are better kept in an adult's bedroom or high up in a cupboard out of children's reach.

Keep all medications, cosmetics, and mouthwash safely out of children's reach.

Set hot water heaters no higher than 120 degrees F. For safe bathing, a lower water temperature will reduce the chance of scalding your baby.

Always check bath water temperature with your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in to bathe. This will prevent burns to a baby's delicate skin.

Place a nonslip mat in the bathtub to prevent falls.

Don't ever leave your baby alone in the bathtub, even for a minute.

Never leave any electrical appliances plugged in near water.

Kitchen:
Since families spend plenty of time in the kitchen, your child most likely will, too. Many dangers lurk in the average kitchen. To keep your baby safe, take the following steps.

Always store glasses and precious china in a lockable cabinet or up high and out of reach.

Keep knives and other sharp tools, such as electric mixer blades, in latched drawers.

Use safety latches on draws and doors where dangerous items are kept.

Never leave anything on the edge of a bench or table. As your child could easily pull it off.

Use the back rings on your cooker when cooking, but if you can`t place the handles facing toward the back.

Install a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. But only attempt to extinguish a fire if it's small and contained. Otherwise, get your children out of the house and call the fire department from a neighbor's home.

Never leave children unattended on furniture or in high chairs.

Don't leave your baby alone in a highchair; always use all safety straps. This will prevent injuries and deaths from the baby climbing out, falling, or sliding under the tray.

Lock household cleaning products, knives, matches, and plastic bags away from children. This will prevent poisonings, bleeding injuries, burns, and suffocation.

All tablecloths should be secured to the table, so your child cannot pull anything off onto him/herself.

Keep rubbish bins locked, so that your baby does not have access to them.

Living room:
Electric sockets should be protected with safety covers.

Keep windows locked to prevent your child from falling outside.

Remove or shorten any cord that your child can reach. Cords from blinds or drapes can cause strangulation.

If you have glass doors either replace them with wooden ones or have safety glass put in.

Make sure all furniture is secure, so your baby cannot pull anything over on himself/herself.

Attach cushioned corner and edge bumpers to the sharp corners of a coffee table. You can also use them on fireplace hearths to soften falls against a hard brick or metal edge.

Put a fire guard around your fire. And never leave a baby/toddler in a room with a fire on.

Keep floors clean and vacuumed. Babies have an amazing sense for small objects that end up in their mouth and could cause choking.

Fix and repair all wobbly furniture and make sure all knobs are securely tight. Position furniture so that it can't be pulled over.

Bedrooms:
Keep pillows out of the crib until your baby is over a year old.

Keep small jewelry, perfumes, belts, scarves, and ties all out of reach from your baby.

Never lock a baby into a room.

Make sure closets can be opened from the inside, so that your toddler doesn't get locked in.

Never allow your baby to sleep with a bib on.

Keep older children's toys out of reach of your toddler.

All windows should have safety latches on them.

Stairs and hallways:
Sockets should be protected with socket covers.

Install safety gates at the top and bottom of your stairs.

Hallways and stairs should always be well lit.

Don`t leave toys or other items on stairs.

Don`t let your baby play in a baby walker near stairs.

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