Are you patiently awaiting the arrival of your little one? You may want to consider babyproofing your home before baby arrives. This allows time for you and other family members to get used to new changes around the house as you create a safe environment in which to bring your child home. Although supervision is the best thing you can do to keep your infant safe, there are multiples things you can do around the house to prevent injuries and save yourself a trip to the emergency room.
Kitchen
- Store detergents, pesticides, cleaning products and any other toxic household chemicals out of reach and preferably in a high cabinet or high shelf in a closet.
- Remove dials on stove when not using.
- Keep plastic bags and boxes of cling wrap and aluminum foil out of reach.
- Secure the dishwasher, stove and refrigerator with child safety latches.
- Unplug electrical appliances and hide the cords when they are not in use.
- Low drawers and cabinets with knives, sharp kitchen tools and glassware should be locked.
- Put a lid on the trashcan.
Bathroom
- Add a childproof cover to the doorknob so your child can’t go in without you.
- Prevent slips and falls with a skid-proof bath mat and water-resistant mat in the tub.
- Because the toilet poses as a drowning hazard for infants, install a toilet lock.
- Set the water heater in your house to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also buy an anti-scald device that is placed on the spout.
- If possible, do without a trashcan. Used razors, Q-tips and other forms of debris typically found in a bathroom trashcan can be a hazard.
Living Room
- Place candles high up and out of reach. Even better, replace with flameless LED candles.
- Mount your television securely to the wall. If your television sits on a television stand, make sure both are secured.
- Cover the fireplace and lock its doors when not in use. Keep fire-stoking tools out of reach and install heat resistant gates.
- Hide power strips behind furniture or, if they must be exposed, buy a power-strip cover.
- Be mindful of the edges on your coffee table or side tables. Edge-guards can soften a fall.
Bedroom
- Make sure your child’s crib is set up safely. To prevent suffocation, the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among infants under age 1, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) encourages parents to get a firm, tight-fitting mattress.
- For infants under 12 months of age, do not put pillows, blankets, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.
- Make sure windows in the bedroom (and all windows within a child’s reach) have window guards. Window blinds should be cordless or cut short.