There’s never a bad time to baby-proof your home, but parents who plan to do it should get it done before their child starts crawling.
Childproofing your home involves looking at it in a new way. Some household items you use frequently will need to be locked in less convenient places, out of reach of your child’s curious hands.
Kitchen : Always turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so your child can’t pull a hot pot down. : Keep poisons high up, out of reach. Expert recommend this even if you have locks or latches on your cupboards. Household cleaners and chemicals make up the bulk of poisonous substances in homes, though perfumes, medications and spider and animal bites can also lead to poisoning. : Avoid using tablecloths, since a child can easily pull them off the table—along with everything on them. : If you have a drawer or cupboard that you allow your child to play in, make sure it’s one that’s far from the stove. Remember that hot foods from a microwave above the drawer can hurt your child as badly as anything from the stove. : Be very careful with plastic bags–grocery bags, plastic dry-cleaning covers, newspaper bags (if your paper is delivered in plastic) and even sandwich bags. : Secure any cabinet that contains items that are dangerous to your child or items you don’t want your child to damage.
Living Room : Cords from phones, answering machines, small appliances and window coverings should be tied up out of reach of your child. : Remove or block off tall floor lamps that could be pulled over. : Keep plants away from children. Click here for a list of plants that are dangerous to children and pets. : Avoid baby walkers on wheels—use an activity centers on a stable, non-moveable base. Place it away from stairs, hot appliances, electrical cords and window covering cords. Remember that children should never be left unattended, even in a safe walker. : Keep your own and your visitor’s purses in a safe place. Both the contents and carrying strap present hazards for small children, who like to explore these adults bags. : Stabilize anything—chairs, high tables, floor lamps, etc.—that could fall on your baby or be pulled over. : Cover your electrical outlets and power strips. Please note that there are covers available for plugs you’re using as well as those that aren’t in use [picture of both].
Nursery : Never place cribs near windows. : Install safety guards on windows. Consider using cordless window coverings to avoid strangulation hazards posed by drapery and blind cords. : Buy a crib that meets all current national safety standards. Distance between crib slats must be 2 3/8 inches or less. The mattress should fit securely in the crib (no more than two fingers of space between crib and mattress) and be free of all plastic wrappings. : Place your baby on his back to sleep. : Buy only age-appropriate toys for your baby. Toys that are too small or have small parts can create a choking hazard. : Make sure the nursery floor is free from small objects such as buttons, beads, marbles, coins and other choking hazards such as pet toys, refrigerator magnets and purses (filled with interesting toys!).
Bathroom : Check your baby’s bath water for hot spots by moving your hand back and forth through the water. : Lower the temperature of your hot water to avoid burning your child. Water should never be hotter than 120. 114 degrees is a safe, comfortable temperature. Be careful when bathing your baby at a grandparent’s or friend’s home or while traveling. Hotels often heat their water to a higher temperature than regular homes. : Never leave a child alone in a bathtub. Store any containers that could hold water upside down. : Install a non-skid mat in the bottom of the tub your baby uses. : Do not use toilet bowl cleaners that are activated each time the toilet is flushed. The attractive coloring of these products draw a child’s attention; thechemicals in them can be hazardous. (75% of accidental poisonings of children under 5 involve such common household items as cleansers, cosmetics and medicines.) : Keep razors, scissors and medicines out of reach. Toothpaste with fluoride is dangerous to children under six. This includes almost all toothpaste sold in the US.
Hallways : Install gates at the top and bottom of stairways—children can fall down them from the top, or climb up them and fall. : Install and maintain smoke detectors outside bedrooms and on every floor, and carbon monoxide detectors (in every sleeping area) in your home.