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How to Baby Proof Your Home

There is nothing more important or precious in this world than your children. Your job is to keep them safe. Safety is one of the most important things you, as a parent can provide for them. Childproof your home as soon as you can, before your child becomes more mobile. Sadly, every year more children under the age of five die from unintentional injury than any other cause combined. Accidental injury and death, most often happens in the home. Here are some suggestions to help create a safer home for your baby. Please keep in mind that there is no substitute for constant parental supervision.

Crib safety

Examine your baby’s crib and make sure it’s safe, especially if it’s a used crib that may not meet current safety standards. Check for any loose parts and make sure the crib is sturdy. The slats or railing space should meet safety standards. Keep the crib free of extra blankets and stuffed toys. Bumper pads should be removed as soon as your child can pull himself up and stand. Make sure the mattress fits snugly to the crib and remove all plastic covering. Avoid cribs that have been repainted or have stickers on them. Do not place the crib near a window or anywhere they can reach cords to blinds. Never hang a diaper bag on the crib. As soon as your baby can stand or reach, remove hanging mobiles and toys. Make sure all your safety guidelines are followed if your baby is staying away from home.

Baby Carriers

  • Never place a baby carrier or bouncer on the counter or a high surface. It doesn’t  take long before a baby can wiggle and move and next thing you know they topple over.

Get down on your hands and knees

  • Crawl around the floor to get the same view as your baby and also see what they can find on the floor. You’d be surprised how they will pick up the smallest object and put it in their mouth. Pick up anything that could pose a chocking hazard and secure anything they could pull down on themselves.

Clothing

  • Check your baby’s clothing often. Avoid clothing with drawstrings and check for loose buttons and snaps. Never use strings to attach a pacifier. Avoid jewelry on a baby such as earrings, necklaces and headbands. Any part can pose a choking hazard.

Cords

  • Keep cords out of reach. Babies will pull at any cord or string within reach. Tie up all telephone, electrical and window cords. Plug any unused electrical outlet.

Furniture

  • Be sure all heavy furniture is secure. Fasten bookcases to the wall or any other furniture that can be pulled down. Pay attention to the placement of furniture. If it can be climbed on such as a bed, chair, or a dresser, make sure it isn’t near a window. Children shouldn’t have access to any open window, especially a second story or higher. You can purchase window guards to prevent them from opening a window more than 4 inches. Cover any sharp edges on low tables, or fireplace hearths. Children fall on to these and injuries can be severe.

Toys

  • Use common sense and only offer age appropriate toys to your baby. Never let them play with small objects that can go in their mouth like balloons, rubber bands, hair clips, pens with caps, coins, buttons, marbles or toys with long strings. Keep toys of older children away from your baby. .

Locks and Latches

  • Lock all cabinets and drawers that are accessible to your baby with safety locks or latches. This is the best way to prevent accidents and poisoning from things like laundry and dish soaps, cleaning supplies, liquor, medicine, or sharp knives, tools or utensils and plastic bags. Cover doorknobs with special made covers so doors can’t be opened to dangerous areas. Also, check your doorstops to see if the rubber ends can be pulled off. Replace them with one-piece stops.

Kitchens

  • Kitchens are one of the most dangerous rooms in the house. Always use the backburner when cooking and turn handles away from the front. Never hold your baby in your arms while cooking. Scalding hot water or hot oil can splash up and burn.

Baby Gates

  • Never use accordion style gates. Pressure-mounted gates with 2 panels should not be used at the top of stairs. Use gates to secure doorways and stairs. For the best security, buy gates that can be screwed to the wall, especially at the top of stairs. Use gates that are up to code.

Water Sources

  • Children seem drawn to water. They should not have any unsupervised access to water. Just 1 inch of water can pose a risk of drowning. Latch the lid of your toilet, empty buckets of water and turn them over. Even the bowl of water for your cat or dog is a drowning risk. Keep these out of reach. Set the hot water heaters to no more than 120 degrees to prevent scalding. Never leave your baby or small child alone in the tub, and never leave to answer the phone. If you have a pool, secure it!

Plants

  • Many household plants can be fatal if eaten. Move plants out of reach and keep their hands out of the soil.

Playpens and portable cribs

  • Babies can suffocate in the corner of a playpen if the baby rolls into a pocket of mesh or vinyl and becomes trapped. Make sure you do not use a hand-me-down and the playpen or portable crib is up to current standards.

High Chairs

  • Always strap your baby properly. Your chair should have a safety strap at the waist and one at the crotch. Most high chair injuries and deaths occur because they are not being strapped in and they slide out or the tray comes off and they fall. Please take the time and secure them in.

Car Seats

  • Make sure your baby’s car seat passes all current standards. You won’t even be able to leave the hospital with your new baby if it doesn’t. Get a car seat inspection for free by a member of the police or fire department. Most people install them improperly. The same safety guidelines apply to anyone other than you who might be transporting your baby.

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • It is highly recommended to place the alarms near every separate sleeping area of your home. You should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on every floor of the home. Also, place a smoke detector near the kitchen and test the batteries of all the alarms every six months. Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.

Pets

  • Never leave your baby unattended with your cat or dog. Even your beloved pet has the potential to bite your baby. Be aware that we can never predict what the gentlest pet will do. If your baby is a newborn, do not leave him on the floor where a pet can lick or bite. Once your baby starts to crawl or walk you will need to take more precautions. Don’t assume your baby will be safe with your pets; provide supervision to manage the relationship between your baby and your pet. Make sure your cat never sleeps in the same room with your baby. They love to get close and have the potential to suffocate.

Childproofing Tips

  • Keep a notebook handy with all current doctor’s phone numbers, emergency numbers and your insurance information.

  • Make sure babysitters and grandparents know how to use your safety products.

  • If you take your baby to someone else’s house for childcare make sure they safety proof their house also. Only leave your baby with trusted friends and family.