Children are a blessing, but if you are expecting a new arrival, there are quite a few things that you will need to do to your home to make sure that it is childproof. As soon as they are able to crawl, they are able to get hurt, so it is vital to take necessary steps to secure your home. Luckily, most of these fixes are very simple and practically anyone can childproof a home. You don’t need to bubble wrap everything, but it is a good idea to really use a sharp eye around your home to see where the trouble areas are.

1. Outlet covers.

The first place to start is your outlets. They are right at infant/toddler level and electrocution is devastating. You can simply cap outlets to prevent children from sticking their fingers inside. There are also plug protectors available that will prevent children from unplugging a device and getting hurt.

2. Installing cabinet locks.

While it may not be feasible to remove all dangerous cleaning products, medicine and other dangerous items from your home, it is easy enough to install cabinet locks. We highly recommend these for any home with children and they can easily divert a disaster.

3. Sharp edges.

If you have tables, counters, or anything with a sharp edge, it is vital to either replace them, or purchase end covers that will provide a softer surface. Kids fall, especially when they are learning to walk, and a sharp edge may cause a head trauma. In a pinch, foam tape on these corners will work wonders.

4. Child safety gates.

These are very important, especially for children that are able to crawl or just starting to walk. They should be placed in doorways to rooms where children should not enter, and at the top and bottom of stairs. We highly recommend adding one to kitchens since this is an area where injuries frequently occur.

5. Securing decks.

Your deck may look safe to you, but imagine if you are only a few feet tall. Could you get your head stuck between the railings, or worse, fall through? Purchase sturdy lattice that can be nailed in or consider adding a steel mesh around these areas to prevent these accidents from occurring.

6. Curtain and Blind cords.

Every year, thousands of children die as a result of improperly secured curtain and blind cords. It is absolutely vital to make sure that they cannot reach these cords. Remove them from reach and secure them so that there is not enough cord for a child to play with.

There are also a few other considerations to think about. One accident that is unfortunately highly common is a problem with countertop fryers. If they are placed to close to an edge, or a cord is hanging down, it is all too easy for a child to pull it down on themselves. By taking steps to avoid a tragedy, you can rest assured that your children are protected.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-09-25 05:32:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• Learn How to Repair a Flooded Home After a flood, it may seem as if your home and your possessions are beyond hope, but many of those belongings can likely be repaired. With the right process, you can clean up, dry out, rebuild and reoccupy your home much sooner than you may have previously imagined. First and......
• The Best Home Remodeling Investments If you're ready to renovate, why not incorporate some of the best home remodeling investments into your plan? You may already be planning them without realizing that they're improvements that won't just make your home a more beautiful and pleasant place to be, but will increase its market value. Some......
• Basic Tools – A Home Repair Guide Anyone who has had to hire someone to perform a simple home repair for them knows that it’s just not worth it. Repair services charge a lot to fix even the most basic problems, and if you have a major issue then it’s that much worse. Many people have been......
• Book Review: No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do by Creative Homeowners The Creative Homeowner is one of today’s hottest resources for home improvement and this latest book produced by their editors addresses one of the biggest concerns that homeowners have. They want to start making improvements around their home, but they are too worried that they may mess something up. Considering......
• Remodel or Refresh? If you are thinking about completely remodeling your home, but your budget is pretty small, you may want to think about refreshing it instead. There are some definite benefits to both types of home renewal, but there are some downsides as well. Let’s take a closer look at both types......

Related Websites

• Vacations For Vitality nnTaking vacations allows time for relaxing and enjoying yourself in being free from your everyday responsibilities at home and at the office.nnIt is your moment to travel and explore the world.nnVacations also bring unforgettable memories that will last for a lifetime. Making good memories is good for the soul.nnYou will...
• The Boat House Marina, Locke, CA The Boat House Marina is located in Locke, CA Phone: (916) 776-1204 Boat launches? Yes, the marina supplies a boat launch for their customers. Please keep in mind that although the public may use the marina, it is considered a privately owned operation. Marine stand by channel? You can reach......
• Prevent your child from the deadly Pneumococcal disease Pneumococcal (pronounced as neu-mo-co-cal) disease kills more than one million children a year. This disease is caused by a bacteria known as streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus. Children under the age of 5 are susceptible to this disease. Infants below the age of 24 months are at the highest risk of......
• Choosing A Clean Energy Source Clean energy is very hot at this time ; in principle it sort of feels like an excellent idea with advantages for everybody. Not only does it help the environment, purchasers can also benefit from lower electricity bills. In practice however this doesn't always work out. The high price......
• Reminder in Fire Safety Saves More than Money Summer is coming to an end and the heating season, at least here on the East Coast, is not far off.  Along with the need to warm houses and the high costs of heating fuel, there may be a lot more people using alternatives, such as plug-in heaters and kerosene......

Online Stores

• Extension Cords Electrical Solar Home Improvement
• Curtain Rods Curtain Rods & Hardware Window Treatments Home Store
• Children s Ceiling Fans Home Lighting
• Outlets Receptacles Switches Outlets Electrical Solar Home Improvement

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Cabinets, Curtains, Deck, Handy Man, Safety, Windows, locks

Tags:

amazon, cabinet locks, cleaning products, disaster, electrocution, fingers, foam tape, head trauma, infant toddler, medicine, necessary steps, new arrival, plug protectors, sharp edge, sharp edges, trouble areas