Safe Proofing the Home for Children

Despite often being told every element of the home and garden has the potential to inflict grievous harm, parents have plenty of options available to help make sure the home environment promotes safety without compromising on style.

Whilst supervision is the best way to prevent injuries, even the most diligent parents can’t keep children completely out of harm’s way every second of the day. That being the case and the risk of compromised dignity notwithstanding, the most important place to begin when safe proofing the home is by conducting a safety survey on hands and knees to check things out from a child’s perspective. This is always a good way to spot the hazards and take action to mitigate against any accidents.

The next step is to tackle each safety hazard room by room. For example, a great start to safe proofing the lounge is to make sure that electrical outlets are hidden with either furniture or plastic caps. While removing trailing wires, remember to lock the windows and try to secure everything that possibly can be secured. Babies and toddlers are effortless fiddlers, and the potential to pull something over and cause a serious injury cannot be discounted.

Similarly, taking sharp corners out of the dining room by covering them with plastic corner protectors can protect against cuts and bruises.  Alternatively, investing in a round dining table preserves the look and feel of a home as well as offering tangible safety benefits.

One of the most hazardous areas for young children is the kitchen. By cooking using the burners at the back of the stove and turning pan handles inwards, the possibility of a dousing in scalding water is minimized. Removing knives and hot beverages from the edge of work surfaces and applying child safe cupboard locks can also discourage little hands to wander.

Moving upstairs, the installation of a safety gate at either end of the stairs can afford some peace of mind to weary parents. Bathrooms should be considered carefully too and razor blades and toiletries moved to the highest shelf – or cupboard – possible. The rule of thumb here is as obvious as it is essential: never leave baby unsupervised in the bathroom.

For a final tilt at ensuring a good night’s sleep for everybody, make sure that pets are not in a position to climb into cots or beds – as this has been implicated in suffocation –  and never put a baby to sleep with a pillow.

 In most respects the same principles can be transferred to the garden, where keeping the area securely fenced, locking gates and ensuring children are supervised near water promotes peace of mind as well as trouble-free play.

 *Guest Post by Sarah P.