Child Proofing your home - inside and outside safety

Childproofing your house does not have to be a major headache, a quick walk or crawl through your home can open your eyes to the dangers your child will face every day.

When I walk into a customer’s home I start right in the foyer and take a look at the stair case and the banister. I always recommend a permanently mounted gate at the top of stairs to prevent falls. I check the spacing between banister slats and suggest Plexiglas if there is a risk of the child falling through or using the slats to climb. Some clients choose to gate the bottom of the stairs or close off the foir area at other access points instead. While in this area I look for tall or top heavy pieces of furniture that should be secured to avoid being tipped, suggest locks on closets and throwing away dry cleaning bags, I also suggest locks on basement and exterior doors and suggest outlet/cord protection devices where needed.

In the Kitchen we talk about cabinet locks, appliance locks, switch guards and things on counters and cook tops that could be pulled down on the child. I never like the idea of the play cupboard that parents sometimes have to keep children occupied; it’s never a good idea to have children at your feet while working in the kitchen.

In the family / dining room some of the hazards are again top heavy pieces of furniture, sharp edges on furniture which need to be padded or moved, outlets and cords and a major hazard is the hearth/fireplace which can be padded and locked or for the ultimate protection gated around. Blind cords can be a choking hazard and should be secured, and drawers and cabinets secured.

In the bedrooms you mostly need to worry about top heavy furniture, small objects on dressers/nightstands that can be a choking hazard and if on the second level windows that are low to the ground should be secured with some sort of window guard or device to limit the opening.

In bathrooms I usually secure cabinets, place toilet lid locks and make sure the parents are aware of how to unlock bathroom doors from the outside if the child locks themselves in. they should also be aware of the things they throw in wastebaskets.

In the laundry room I suggest moving all hazardous chemicals up to a high shelf / cabinet and securing lower cabinets, lock closets and throw away dry cleaning bags that could be a suffocation hazard.

With so much outdoor living these days I like to take a look at the deck and suggest gates at the steps and make sure the slat spacing is safe. Some parents may want to consider a soft mat for children to crawl on instead of wood or concrete decks. If a swimming pool is involved parents should be aware that this is a major safety concern and have appropriate layers of protection in place. I suggest:

Alarms on all doors from the house to the pool area
A swimming pool fence that surrounds the pool - safety pool fencing is the best barrier
A self closing / self latching gate

Additionally, things like always being able to see the pool from the house, keeping a cordless phone near the pool to call for help and so you don’t have to leave the pool area to answer the phone. Parents should also take a CPR class and be sure to check the pool first if in doubt.

Childproofing is mostly about moving things, thinking a little different and utilizing a few safety products to make their life a lot safer and yours a little easier. And if you really want to make it easy call a professional Childproofer in your area.

Pat Kinyon
Home Safe Home Inc, Pool Guard of Ohio