How Can I Childproof My Home?

21st November 2015

As soon as your little ones begin to crawl, there is no stopping them. However, their adventurous and curious nature often lands them in trouble around the home. Before you know it, they’ve reached places you didn’t think were even possible!  

To make sure they don’t encounter anything harmful or dangerous during this vulnerable stage of their childhood, it’s wise that you childproof your home before your child even begins to start crawling. This way you can stay one step ahead and make sure their safety is always at the forefront of your mind.

Cupboard locks

Kitchen and bathroom cupboards can contain all sorts. From toxic cleaning chemicals to seemingly harmless toiletries and medicines. However, if a toddler consumes these, not only will it make them very ill but it could have dire consequences, so make sure you lock any cupboards that are remotely within your child’s reach.

Security gates

This may seem like an obvious one, but making your staircase safe should be a top priority when it comes to safeguarding your house. Falls down the stairs can be very serious, so make sure there is a hard, fixed gate at both the top and bottom of the staircase.

Framed photographs

Although this doesn’t pose a major safety concern, it is still worth noting that any framed photos that are hung fairly low down on the walls (more so on the staircase) could potentially be reached by your child. If pulled down, the glass frame could land on your child and hurt them, so make sure you hang them higher up on the wall.  

Tap protectors

Protect your baby’s head from the hard tap by using a tap protector. They simply slot onto the end of the tap and are available in child-friendly animal figures – it’s all part of the bathtime fun!  

Blinds

The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) are running a Make it Safe campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of blind cords to small children. Opt for cordless blinds, or install safety devices to eliminate the risk of strangulation.

Furniture

Any furniture in the middle of the room, such as a coffee table, should be moved to the side of the room. Whilst your child is learning to crawl or walk, they will be unsteady on their feet, so any furniture with sharp edges should be moved out of their way to give them room to play and move around.

Plug sockets

Plug sockets are extremely dangerous to children. If they put their fingers in the live plug socket, they could be electrocuted. Make sure any exposed plug sockets not in use are covered with a safety cover.

Wires

Hide any exposed wires far behind furniture, or pin them to the wall or skirting board, so they are out of the way and out of sight.  

As well as introducing these safety measures, it is still important to verbally reiterate these to your child. For instance, if you see them going to open a cupboard or pull on some wires, firmly tell them “NO”. Even if they aren’t talking yet, they will soon come to understand what no means.

Here at Tiny World, we put your child’s well-being at the forefront of everything we do. Whilst in our care, your child will be under the supervision of qualified members of our team at all times. For further information about our excellent childcare, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today and we’ll be happy to discuss things with you in more detail.