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Is it safe?
How to 'childproof' your home
BY LINDA COOTE
Winnipeg Health Region
Wave, March / April 2010
What can I do to make my home safer for my child?
There are a number of things you can do to childproof your home. Perhaps the best way to do this is to take a "baby's-eye view." Crawl from room to room so you can spot the sharp corners, uncovered electrical wall outlets and extension cords, hanging cords to lamps and other appliances, and loose objects that might easily fall.
Here is a quick checklist for childproofing areas in your house. Remember, however, that every child and home are different.
Kitchen
- Turn handles of all pots and pans to the back of the stove
so your baby can't reach them. (The best way to avoid
accidents is to keep your baby in his playpen or high chair
while you cook.) Do not allow children to play on the
kitchen floor while you are cooking or baking.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and near any fireplaces. Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach.
- Avoid using tablecloths that can be pulled down.
- Keep all appliances and their cords away from the edges
of counters or table tops. All cords should be coiled up and
tied.
- Place safety latches on kitchen cupboards. If you have
room, you can let your baby have one cupboard of his
own filled with pots, pans, and large plastic bowls.
- Store cleaning products and all other toxic substances in a
high cupboard with a lock or safety latch.
- Keep knives and all cutlery in a drawer or cupboard out of
your baby's reach.
- Keep mugs of hot drinks out of reach of your child. Whenever
you are handling hot liquids, check to see where your
baby is before you pick up the tea kettle or pan. You do
not want to trip and spill boiling water on your baby.
- Teach your baby from the very beginning that the stove is
off-limits whether it is off or on. Cook on the back burners
of your stove.
- Keep aluminum foil or plastic wrap out of reach. The jagged
edges on boxes can cause cuts.
Bathroom
- Keep all medicines and drugs in a locked cabinet out of
your baby's reach. Aspirin is one of the most common
causes of childhood poisoning. Be careful to return all
drugs to the cabinet after you use them.
- Keep shampoo and soap out of baby's reach.
- Keep hairdryers and curling irons unplugged to avoid
electric shock if they should be pulled or dropped into
water.
- Lower the thermostat on your hot-water heater to 120°F
(48.9°C). Always check water temperature before putting
your baby into the bathwater or under a faucet.
- Be careful about what you throw away. Your baby will
find the wastebasket full of interesting things. Put pills,
razor blades, etc. in a special wastebasket that is out of
baby's reach.
- Use lid locks to keep the baby from opening the toilet
seat. Always leave the lid down.
- Put a hook on the outside of the bathroom door or put
on a plastic doorknob cover. Keep the bathroom door
closed.
- Use plastic or paper cups and
containers in the bathroom so
there is less chance of
broken glass.
Furniture
- Put corner and edge bumpers on sharp edges of furniture
such as coffee tables, end tables, and your fireplace hearth.
Put away all delicate, breakable, and valuable items from
tables and shelves until your baby is well past the curious/
destructive stage (4 to 5 years old).
- Heavy objects such as TVs, lamps, or stereo equipment
should be pushed back from the edge of furniture, fastened
to the wall, or kept out of reach so the baby doesn't accidentally
knock them over when trying to crawl or stand.
- Make sure bookcases and other dangerous furniture pieces
are fastened to the wall with a wall anchor so your baby
can't pull the piece of furniture over on top of himself.
- Diaper pails can be dangerous to curious babies. Babies
can drown in the soaking pails. Keep a latched cover on
the pail.
- Strap children securely into infant carriers, high chairs, and
changing tables. Store ointments, creams, safety pins and
all other baby-changing items out of reach.
- Do not put plants in places where your baby could reach
them.
- Hang mobiles and dangling toys out of reach so that baby
can't strangle on the string. The string should be no more
than 12 inches long. Remove the mobile as soon as your
baby can stand.
- The various baby powders and talcs can be dangerous.
- Never use them near a fan or allow the baby to play with
the container - he could choke on the dust.
Floor
- Check the floor area daily for small objects that baby
could choke on: pins, small bits of food such as popcorn,
peanuts, etc.
- Make sure heaters are well ventilated and are protected
by safety guards.
Outlets and Cords
- Cover unused electrical outlets with plastic caps. You can
also get boxes that will cover outlets that are being used.
- Where possible, place furniture in front of outlets.
- Never leave extension cords plugged in where your baby
can find and chew on them and be seriously burned or
shocked. Tape any excess cord down so baby won't be so
interested.
- Keep phone cords out of reach, so that the baby doesn't
pull the phone down on his head.
Doors and Gates
- Use safety gates at the top of stairs, three steps up from the
bottom of stairs, and in front of forbidden rooms or areas.
- Safety gates that fasten to the wall are safer than the gates
held against the wall by pressure.
- Use toddler-proof locks on doors and screens. Keep
outside doors locked at all times, even when you are
home.
- Put decals on glass doors or windows to prevent your baby
from bumping into them.
- Put a fireplace door lock or gate around your fireplace.
Windows
- Keep all cords from drapes or blinds out of reach, or use a
cord wind-up device.
- Use window guards or netting to protect your child from
falling out of an upper-storey window.
Outside Areas
- Store tools out of reach of young children. Cover sharp
edges. Unplug electrical tools when not in use.
- Keep paints, pesticides, and other chemicals out of
children's reach. Label properly and dispose of unused
chemicals.
- Watch children and never leave them alone around water,
including wading pools, swimming pools, spas or hot
tubs, ponds, lakes, streams, or any other open water.
Linda Coote is a registered nurse and manager with
Health Links - Info Santé, the Winnipeg Health Region's
telephone health information service.
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About Wave
Wave is published six times a year by the Winnipeg Health Region in cooperation with the Winnipeg Free Press. It is available at newsstands, hospitals and clinics throughout Winnipeg, as well as McNally Robinson Books.
Read the March / April 2010 issue of Wave |
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