Making the home safe for your baby

Children are curious; they like to explore, put things in their mouth and stick their fingers in unusual places, play with hanging cords and push or pull over furniture. No wonder even the most harmless room can be a “minefield” for them. Childproofing your home is key to keeping your baby safe. -Babies will try […]

Children are curious; they like to explore, put things in their mouth and stick their fingers in unusual places, play with hanging cords and push or pull over furniture. No wonder even the most harmless room can be a “minefield” for them. Childproofing your home is key to keeping your baby safe.

-Babies will try to get into anything you leave lying around. If you’re throwing away anything dangerous-batteries, plastic bags or broken bulbs, it’s a good idea to throw them away immediately. Put the bin somewhere your child cannot reach.

-Burns are common injuries for children. Hot drinks should be kept away from the edge of tables or stools. Also, put your cup down when playing with or caring for your baby. 

Take pot handles away from the edge of the gas or stove, as toddlers would want to grab them.

-All cupboards that contain harmful products such as dish-washing detergents and cleaning agents should be kept away from the reach of the children.

-Children love to grab things. For example, an electrical cord and pull a kettle, blender, or other appliances. These things can cause serious injury. And there are naked wires, touching them can shock the child and in some cases, lead to severe injury or even death. This can be prevented by installing a cord holder, which will make the cord too short to reach over the edge of the table.

-Since there are many sharp, pointed edges in the living room – on tables and shelves for example that a toddler could accidentally fall against and hit his/her head or eye, the best way to make them safe is to put plastic corners on them.

-Floor coverings such as loose carpets and rugs are dangerous for children are learning to walk because they can trip and fall. Use rubber mats under the carpets.

 -If there are table clothes, your toddler/baby will grab them to help them stand up. Therefore, if you are using one, ensure it is fastened to the table with a clip so that a child will not pull it and everything on the table over. 

The home is like a safe haven, so it is terrifying to see how much trouble these little ones can get into once they become “mobile”.

Note that most babies start crawling between six and 10 months, although some may skip the crawling phase altogether and go straight to pulling up, cruising and walking. It is important to make your home a safe place for them.