Baby Proofing 101
It is commonly thought that there is no such thing as an accident but only injuries, and that most injuries are preventable! Take the time to carefully check your surroundings and your behavior to make your home a safe haven for your baby.
- DO NOT assume that all safety products are the same. They are not. Better quality products are typically easier to install, more versatile and more effective. Select the best quality products you can afford. It may mean you cut back on something else that is not as essential as your child’s safety.
- Beware of thinking that injuries, or worse, only happen to someone else’s child
- DO NOT think that your child could not possibly be injured since you have a nanny, grandparent or babysitter watching.
Getting Started:
- Take a crawling tour around your home to see the world from your baby’s viewpoint. There are many fascinating things at ground level, things to bump into, stick fingers inside, chew, or swallow. So many more temptations are within easy reach such as electrical outlets, wires and unlatched drawers that have unsafe items or offer climbing opportunities.
- Install safety products before your child is mobile. This helps you become accustomed
to using them and will help prevent injuries. - Baby-proofing plans should include safety gates, latches, electrical outlet covers, anti-tip protection for furniture, window guards, and other necessary items. Usually, a good time to install these items is when your baby is between 6 and 8 months old.
- Childproof your home once, and do it thoroughly. This will give your baby a safe environment to explore before reaching the next developmental stage and will help prevent injuries.
- Read up! Magazines, books, and the Internet all offer help. Have a good idea about what is involved in selecting and installing products before you begin.
- Consider hiring a professional baby-proofing service if your time is limited or you lack the tools or technical skills to install products yourself.
- Always read the manufacturers’ instructions and follow them carefully before installing all safety products. Test the locking mechanisms frequently to make sure they work properly every time you use them.
Consider the Following:
- Babies love to imitate, especially you! Try not to let tots observe you operating safety devices.
- Tots love to climb. By latching all cabinets and drawers from waist level down, you will prevent baby from using drawers as a stepstool.
- Travel means preparation. How will you safeguard medications, toiletries and other unsafe items you take with you? A good solution is to bring along tamperproof containers.
- It is always a good idea to keep emergency phone numbers within easy reach and have them with you when you travel.
- Hopefully you will never need it, but a well-designed fire escape ladder is a must. Have a plan to escape from both a lower and an upper level window.
- Minimize clutter! Keeping counters, floors and stairs clear means a safer environment
for everyone. - Families without time, tools or expertise to baby proof their own home may want to hire
a professional childproofing service.
Pay Close Attention To:
Windows, since window screens will not prevent a child from falls. Solution: Install window guards, locks or stops.
Blind cords, which can strangle if left within a child’s reach. Solution: Install blind cord cleats or cord wind-up devices.
Pet doors, which a child can crawl through and then, have access to unsafe areas. Solution: Use the door to let your pets outside.
Water in wading pools, toilets, cleaning buckets, etc., which present drowning dangers. Solution: Empty water from wading pools and buckets immediately after use, and install toilet locks.
Heavy furniture, bookcases, TVs and other electronics which could be pulled over, especially if your child is able to open the drawers or climb onto them. Solution: Secure to wall with TV locks and furniture brackets.
Pots and pans By giving your child pots and pans as toys, which are not toys but are adult utensils, a child doesn’t know the difference between a pan that you give him to play with and one that is on the stovetop filled with boiling water. Solution: Give your child age-appropriate toys to play with.
Electrical outlets, every electrical outlet should be protected. Using plug-in outlet caps are better than nothing at all but they are inconvenient, may not be replaced after use and leave an exposed outlet if your baby unplugs a lamp. They can be a choke hazard as well. Solution: Install sliding style outlet plates that have a safety cover that prevents access to the outlet.
What to Avoid:
- Beware of older-style, hand-me-down items. Check for JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) or ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) approval and UL listing. You can also call the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). When in doubt, throw it out!
- Avoid using pressure gates at the top of stairs. There is always the risk that your child’s weight may push them over.
- Avoid stepping over safety gates that give your baby the message that it is okay to climb over them too. It is not only unsafe for baby, but adults as well, who could be injured when climbing.
- Never leave your child unattended or rely on any safety product to keep your baby safe. Adult supervision is the best prevention against injury.
