Is your home safe for your kids? While no home can be 100% kid-proof, look at these safety tips below and implement them at home as soon as possible so that you can minimize the risk to your little ones!
Be prepared for emergencies!
You should always be alert and prepared for emergencies. For example, you can do the following to help you:
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Keep a list of emergency phone numbers and addresses in your home.
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Consider learning basic first aid and CPR.
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Keep first aid supplies handy.
General tips for safety
Here are the crucial tips you must follow to get a kid-proof home!
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Look for safety hazards in your home from your child’s viewpoint. I mean this quite literally: you need to get down on your hands and knees, look around, and then think about what looks tempting to your kid.
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Use plug protectors on unused electrical outlets and keep your electrical appliances unplugged when not in use.
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Make sure that there are no electrical cords running underneath rugs.
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Keep your rooms free of small toys, plastic bags, balloons, and other items that could pose a choking hazard.
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Keep all the matchboxes and lighters out of your children’s reach.
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Use window stops to prevent your windows from opening more than 4 inches.
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Empty your buckets when they are not in use and turn them over because even one inch of water can pose a drowning risk for your small children.
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Don’t keep firearms in your home. Nevertheless, if you must keep one, lock up all your gun-related materials whenever they are not in use. Also, store the gun and bullets separately.
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Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.
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Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas.
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For toddlers and pre-schoolers:
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Do not use baby walkers with wheels as they can be dangerous to use near the stairs.
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Guard your stairs at the top with hardware-mounted gates. If possible, install the gates at the stairs’ top and bottom. Also, keep stairs carpeted, and do not clutter them with tripping hazards.
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Kitchen safety
Tips for safety in the kitchen include:
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Keep your knives, scissors, and other sharp utensils out of your kid’s reach.
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Keep the handles of your pots and pans turned toward the back of your stove while cooking.
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Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen for safety and ensure that all the home members know how to use it!
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Carefully store all your toxic household products, such as cleaning supplies, medicines, and vitamins, out of sight and reach of children.
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If your child uses a highchair, always strap him or her in.
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Do not use tablecloths because your kids might get tempted to grab them and pull them!
Bathroom safety
Tips for safety in the bathroom include:
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Place non-skid bath mats on the floor and also in the tub to prevent falls.
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Store your medicines and cosmetics in locked containers.
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Keep your hair dryers and other electric appliances unplugged and out of your kids’ reach. If possible, make sure that they have a ground fault circuit interrupter.
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Always supervise your children in the bathroom to prevent drowning.
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Keep your hot water heater at 120°F (48.9°C) or lower to prevent scalding. Be aware that your child’s skin is more sensitive to heat than yours.
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Use toilet seat locks to prevent your toddlers from drowning.
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Use doorknob covers on your bathroom doors. These require you to squeeze them to open the door, which is hard for young children.
Your child’s bedroom safety
Tips for safety in your child’s bedroom include:
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Keep your diaper-changing supplies within your reach. Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table. And also, use the safety strap if your table has one to secure your baby.
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Keep the cords for your drapery and blinds out of reach of your children to prevent strangulation hazards.
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Make sure that your kid’s toy box does not have a heavy lid that could trap him or her. Install a safety hinge that holds the lid open, or remove the lid.
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Keep your kid’s bed away from windows.
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Use bunk beds only for older kids.
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Try these tips to keep your child’s crib safe:
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Remove toys, pillows, and loose blankets from your crib. This is because your baby can use all of these items as steps for climbing out of the crib. Likewise, they can also pose a suffocation hazard.
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Make sure your crib’s slats are no more than 2⅜ inches apart because wider ones can trap your baby’s head.
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Check your crib for small parts that your child could choke on.
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Living room safety
Tips for safety in the living room include:
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Keep your furniture edges and corners covered to prevent injuries.
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Secure your large TVs and other heavy furniture with a wall strap. This keeps them from falling over. And also, use a TV stand that is the correct size to hold your TV.
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Place a barrier around your fireplaces and other heat sources.
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Keep the cords of your curtains out of children’s reach.
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Try to keep electrical cords hidden and ensure none are damaged.
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Keep your furniture away from windows. This prevents children from climbing up on them and falling out of the window.
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Keep all your houseplants out of reach of children.
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Remove your loose rugs or simply secure them to the floor.
