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Articles: Home - Baby
Proofing Your Home
By Martin
Smith
Keeping your baby
safe at all times is one of your greatest concerns and
responsibilities. There is so much to consider and it is very easy
to overlook something that might be fairly obvious to some but
escape others. Things like covering electrical outlets, putting up
baby gates and turning pot handles to the rear of the stove are
discussed in this article and is presented in a question and answer
format.
The best way is to see your home from the eyes of
your child. It is recommended that you get down on your hands and
knees and crawl around your home. This will enable you to see
hazards you might not have recognized at your full height. Are
electrical outlets in baby’s reach or are there electric cords
hanging down that your baby can pull on or get tangled in? Does your
furniture have sharp corners? Are there precious items at your
baby’s level that should be put up out of reach?
Any situation that places your baby in
harm’s way is the worst situation for your baby. The most hazardous
situation for your baby is choking or anything that might cause him
to stop breathing. The most hazardous situation for you baby is one
that caused an injury that could have been prevented.
There
are many things to consider. Your baby is a quick mover so it is
never really safe to leave him unattended if at all possible.
Consider putting up all valuables and breakable items out of reach
of your baby’s. Anything that is small enough to fit in his mouth
should be removed. If in doubt as to whether any one item is small
enough to fit in your baby’s mouth and pose a choking hazard take an
empty toilet paper roll. If it fits inside the tube it go in his
mouth and possibly harm him.
Baby safety gates can be placed
in doorways or at the top and bottom of staircases. The gates can
prevent your baby from getting into the kitchen or bathroom. They
can also prevent your baby from tumbling down the stairs or climbing
the stairs and falling. The mesh or the holes in the gate should not
be large enough for your baby to put his toes through to climb the
gate. Gates now are being made to operate hands-free or one handed.
There are gates being made with the bars going vertical instead of
horizontal reducing the chances of your baby being able to climb the
gate.
Electric outlet covers look like plastic plugs when
they are inserted and prevents your baby from sticking his fingers
or something else in the outlet and getting a serious shock.
Electric outlet lock plates can replace typical outlets and in order
to insert anything into the outlet the plug has to be inserted and
turned.
Some kids are very active and able to do things you
would be very surprise about. Children have been known to open
windows and fall through screens and become seriously injured. There
are many news stories where toddlers have gotten up in the night and
unbeknownst to their parents open the door and go outside. Some are
found wandering around and others are not so lucky. Some windows now
come with a mechanism to prevent the window from being opened more
than an inch or two. The alarms will alert you to the door opening
and you can intervene before something tragic happens.
There
all kinds of baby products available and most are reasonably priced.
There are motion sensors, corner cushions for sharp corners on
furniture. There are electric outlet covers, cabinet and drawer
locks of different types and cord retractors for window blinds.
There is netting available that can be attached with screws
that will prevent your baby from getting between the banister posts.
This product is similar to the deck netting available for outdoor
decks.
Yes there are baby-proofing checklists available. You
can locate them online and they are printable. Specialty stores,
hospitals, and pediatricians are all possible sources for such
checklists.
You can baby proof your nursery by keeping your
baby’s crib away from windows and blinds cords. Put outlet
protectors on all outlets. Make certain to dress your baby in
sleepers rather than using blankets. When your baby begins sitting
up place the mattress in the lowest position. Do not put stuffed
animals or pillows in the crib with your little one, they could
nestle up to them and suffocate.
Put all cleaners or
chemicals up out of reach of your baby. Make sure all drawers and
cabinet doors. While cooking put all pot handles toward the rear of
the stove. Do not allow electric cords to hang over counters where
your baby can pull on them. Better still, if possible unless you are
feeding your baby keep him out of the kitchen.
You can baby
proof your car by making sure the car seat your baby will ride in is
installed correctly and that it is the correct one for your baby.
Remove all loose items that could become missiles in a crash or
quick stop, and place them in the trunk.
The bottom line of
baby proofing your home and your car is to be mindful that the most
common things can be hazardous to a baby or small child. You can
obtain a checklist of things to look for when baby-proofing your
home. Window blinds cords should be shortened and outlets should be
covered. Look at your home and car through your baby’s eyes, you
might be surprised at hazards you miss when you are looking from
adult height.
Martin Smith is a
successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on
purchasing a variety of Nursery
Bedding and more! His numerous
articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting
and relevant
information.
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