How to Childproof Your Home
We can sometimes be so busy trying to keep our young children safe from the outside world that we forget about the dangers in our own homes.
Studies show that mortality is much higher in children and older people if injured at home compared to outside the home.
While you might not be able to prevent all accidents and injuries in the home, you might be able to keep your children much safer by taking the following actions.
Childproof Your Home
Keeping Medications and Cleaning Products Locked Away
Adults know how to keep themselves safe when using products like hemp CBD flower from Secret Nature CBD and cleaning products, but young children don’t.
They don’t know that they’re not supposed to consume unknown substances and aren’t aware of the consequences.
Keep your children safe from accidental poisoning by locking medications, CBD products, and cleaning products away from children or keeping them up high and out of reach.
You might also like to make a conscious effort to buy products with safety caps as an additional layer of protection to prevent accidental access.
Using Tamper-Resistant Receptacles (TRR)
Electrical outlets at child height can be dangerous. If children poke their fingers and items into those outlets, they can be at risk of electrocution.
Tamper-resistant receptacles (TRR) might be something you consider to reduce the risk of this happening.
TRRs are receptacles with spring-loaded shutters, closing off the contact openings so children can’t place items into them.
They are designed to provide permanent security against object insertion, compared to plastic outlet caps that pose a choking hazard and are removable by children.
Being Careful With Blinds
As aesthetically pleasing and practical as blinds can be, they can be dangerous for children and pets. Blind cords present a strangulation risk, especially since they often dangle at eye and hand level.
While you don’t have to get rid of your blinds, create a cord management system to reduce the risk of blind-related injuries.
Consider investing in blinds without cords or that have retractable cords, or purchase wrap-around devices for safe cord storage.
Locking Your Windows
Window locks are an ideal security measure to protect your home from opportunist thieves, but they can also be an essential child safety measure.
If a window opens wide enough for a child to crawl through, they can be at risk of falling.
Purchase window-locking devices like wedges and guards for your windows, and refrain from placing furniture by windows that children can climb onto.
Anchoring Furniture to Walls
Children love to climb, and they aren’t aware of the dangers associated with climbing furniture that isn’t designed for that function.
If you have tall dressers, bookcases, and anything that presents a topple risk, purchase L-shaped brackets and secure your furniture to the walls.
Should your children decide to climb, they are at a reduced risk of having that furniture fall on top of them.
Securing appliances, furniture, and equipment to the wall and floors can also help reduce injury and damage risks in the event of an earthquake.
Children are inquisitive, and their curious nature can sometimes get them into trouble. You might be able to make your home safer for your family by taking some of the actions above.
