Baby-Proofing Your Home, Part 2

When you have a baby, their safety becomes your top priority. While your home does not necessarily pose any threats to you, an infant or child may find dangers in your home. Each room in your house may pose a different safety risk. Protect your child by walking through your home and identifying any dangers unique to each of those spaces.

Baby-proofing your home is easy and affordable when you have access to the right expertise and knowledge.

Keeping Your Kitchen Safe

You spend a great deal of time in this area of the house preparing meals and entertaining. Stoves, dishwashers, ovens, sharp objects, cabinets and other appliances are some of the dangers you may find in your kitchen. Take the proper precautions to make sure that this room in your home is as safe as possible. Parents.com suggested using cushioning or installing protective guards on sharp corners to protect little ones from poking and bumping their heads and bodies.

Your dishwasher may pose a threat to the safety of your child as well. Sharp knives and forks might injure them. When you load or unload the dishwasher, keep them at a distance to avoid accidents. Dishwasher detergent may also be dangerous if ingested. Keep this product away from young ones and when they are old enough, inform them that detergent is poisonous.

Stoves and ovens also may be a potential hazard for young children. When you are cooking and baking, consider putting up a gate to keep young ones out of the space. Make sure to protect them from severe burns that may result from boiling water, steam or hot pans.

Install safety latches on your cabinets and drawers as well to keep children out of areas where you store hazardous materials such as cleaning supplies, sharp tools or other dangerous items. This is an easy and affordable way to help keep your child safe.

Ensuring Bathroom Safety in the Home

Bathrooms can be very dangerous rooms for babies and young children. Drowning, slipping and falling can lead to severe injury and even death. According to Medline Plus, one of the best ways to prevent injuries and accidents in this area of the house is to make sure that your bathroom door is securely shut when no one is there. Consider putting on a door knob cover that you must grip and twist in order to open.

In addition, you should not allow your child to be alone in the bathroom. Even a few unsupervised moments during bath time could lead to a disaster. Drowning and burns from scalding water are some of the dangers present in this particular room. Help prevent the risk of drowning by installing a lid lock on your toilet as well. Even a small amount of water can present a big risk. When you bathe or shower, ensure that all water drains fully before leaving the room.

Make sure that all medicine stored in your bathroom is secure and locked in the cabinet. This can help prevent any prescription drug-related accidents.

Straightening irons, curling irons and other beauty products may lead to severe burns. Keep any hair irons and any other heated beauty products out of reach. For the dangers presented by very hot water, you should install an anti-scald valve to keep sink and bath water from reaching those unsafe temperatures.

Preventing Falls Down Staircases

Trips and falls can be very dangerous for infants and small children. To prevent stumbles, install gates at the top and bottom of staircases to keep your child from attempting to climb up and potentially fall. These devices are a simple and inexpensive way to protect your loved one from injuring themselves on the stairs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that for children between the ages of 0 and 19, falls are the leading cause of injuries. Nearly 8,000 children visit the emergency room every day because of falls. It is crucial to protect your young ones and ensure that your home helps prevent these accidents.

Supervising your child is one of the most effective ways to keep them safe. Also, encourage them to play safely and not get too rambunctious in the house. If you have hardwood floors, tile or other surfaces that may be slippery, consider installing carpet or purchasing a rug. Having nonslip surfaces can help make sure children and infants do not slip and fall.

If you have a jungle gym in your backyard, make sure that your child is old enough to play on it before allowing him or her to do so. Also inspect the structure to ensure that it is stable and safe.

Your child's safety is of upmost importance. Walk around your home and identify potential risks. Know how to remedy these issues and invest in safety features in your home. Making sure that your house is a safe place to raise your children is crucial.

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