If your family is growing, it may be time to start thinking about childproofing your home. Aside from ensuring your child’s safety, taking the time to properly childproof will also protect your belongings and control mess as your child grows (and becomes more curious!) Use this guide to help childproof your home so you can rest easy.
Bedroom & Living Room
- Ensure that all furniture for your baby (such as cribs, playpens, high chairs, and changing tables) meets the standards set by Health Canada Consumer Product Safety (CPS). For more information, go to the CPS website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/index-eng.php.
- Install window guards. Keep climbable furniture away from the windows.
- Keep cords from blind and drapes out of your child’s reach. Wrap cords around wall brackets and cut open any closed loops. Or, use safety cords or tassels.
- Block open outlets with furniture or cover with safety plugs.
- Anchor heavy furniture to walls – things like dressers and bookshelves could fall on your child if they try to climb them.
- Use corner guards or soft pads to cover hard corners on furniture.
- Place gates at the top of any stairs your child could fall down, as well as going into rooms you would not like your child to crawl into.
- Check your home regularly to ensure small items are not left on the floor that your child could choke on, such as small toys or parts.
Kitchen & Bathrooms
- Use childproof locks on drawers, cabinets, toilet seats, garbages, and stove dials – anything you do not want your child getting into or that could cause injury.
- Unplug and store electronics when not in use, such as the toaster, iron, hair straightener, etc.
- Put away all sharp objects like scissors in childproofed storage, like a locked drawer.
- Ensure when you buy medications or potentially hazardous items like super glue that they come with a child-proof lid or cap and are stored in a locked drawer or cabinet.
- Turn your water heater’s temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burns.
Outdoors & Garage
- Check your home and garden plants, removing any that could be poisonous if ingested. Keep plant pots off the floor/ground and out of reach of children.
- If you have a pool, install a fence around it with a childproof lock, but one that can be opened quickly by an adult in an emergency.
- Ensure your shed or anywhere you keep tools is locked and out of your child’s reach.
General Household Safety
- Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – test them regularly and replace batteries when needed.
- Check your first aid kit and ensure it is stocked.
- Keep emergency numbers and the number for the poison control center near your landline phone or as emergency contacts in your cell phone.
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Featured photo by Marisa Howenstine on Unsplash