Baby Proof Your Home - An Overview

General Hazards - The best way to get started baby proofing your home is to view the world as a baby does. You can accomplish this by getting down on your hands and knees and looking closely at everything you can reach. Look for things that are breakable as well as choking, cutting or poisoning hazards - these items need to be moved out of reach of the little one. Look closely for choking items like rocks or wood chips inside planters, dried flowers, coins, potpourri, small toys or toys that have small detachable pieces. The little rubber tips on door stops can easily be removed by the baby creating a choking hazard. Remember, if it fits inside an empty cardboard toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard! Suffocation hazards to look for are things such as dry cleaning bags within reach of the baby.

Create "Off Limit Areas" in Your Home - Garages, home offices and swimming pools are good examples of "off limit areas". These are the areas you never want your baby to have access to unless they are in your arms. You can use child safety gates to prevent access to these areas. These days most door knobs have been replaced with levers and toddlers quickly learn to work levers to open doors. Us additional latches up high on doors you don't want your toddler to open. A fence with a self-latching gate around the pool is a critical baby proofing item.

Electrical Hazards- Use "UL" approved slide covers on your electrical outlets. The small plug-in plastic caps can be dislodged and become a choking hazard. There are covers made to protect power strips and transformers. Keep a close eye on children near electric appliance cords to be sure they don't chew on the cord. Keep all electric appliances away from water. To keep lamps from being pulled off tables, secure the cord to a table leg.

Cabinets and Drawers - Latch all lower cabinets and drawers. Upper cabinets should be latched if you live in an earthquake prone area.

Multi-Level Homes - Use hardware mounted child safety gates at the top and bottom of the staircase. The stairway gates should be mounted to open over the landing not the stairs. You can use plexiglass or special netting on railings or balconies that have gaps greater than 4 inches between the rails. Fold-up fire escape ladders should be available in each upstairs bedroom.

Windows - Window blind cords should be tied or cleated up out of reach. Windows should be able to be locked open at 4 inches to allow for ventilation. To prevent access to windows a window gate, child safety gate or plexiglass can be used. Large picture windows that extend down to the floor should be gated off so the toddler does not run into the window. Furniture should be placed as not to allow climbing access to windows.

Doors - Secure interior doors with knob or lever covers. You can use additional latches up high to secure the door as well. Exterior doors should have "flip latches" or motel style swing latches to prevent the child from exiting the home. Deadbolt locks that require a key inside to unlock the door can present safety hazards in case of a fire. These locks should be used in rare circumstances only and a key hanging up close by should be available in case of emergency.

Furniture - Television sets should be secured to prevent the children from tipping the item over onto themselves. Secure any heavy appliances, stereo speakers and stereo equipment as well. All furniture with sharp edges should be padded or removed. Toddlers like to use their dresser drawers as step ladders the furniture in the toddler's room should be secured to the wall to prevent tipping over. Do a monthly check to be sure all baby furniture, swings and such have all hardware in place and are secure.

Fireplace Safety - Burns, sharp edges of the hearth and fireplace tools are some of the dangers around a fireplace. Hearth gates protect the entire fireplace including the fireplace tools. There are specialty locks for bi-fold glass fireplace doors. Hearth guards (padding) will help protect your child against the sharp edges of the hearth.

Plant Safety - You can get a plant list from your local nursery to see what plants are toxic. Small and dried leaves are a choking hazard. Plants with sharp pointed leaves such as Yucca as well as cactus type plants should be avoided.

Remember - Baby proofing your home provides an additional element of safety...There is no substitute for adult supervision!

For more information - Please visit my site. My Hub Page: Baby Proofing a Room by Room Checklist should be valuable information as well.