Childproof for a Toddler

My youngest daughter is an active, curious, energetic 18 month old now. Babyproofing efforts that worked for a crawler or beginning walker are no longer adequate for her safety. Recently, we took a look around our house to make sure that we were creating a safe environment for a toddler, instead of a baby.

Here is a handy checklist to make your house safer for a little person learning independence and power:

In the bathroom:

Put a non slip mat in the bathtub, because your toddler is going to be moving around more than she did six months ago. Provide her with some safe toys because you want bathing to be a fun experience. Safe toys would be rubber duckies without a squirt hole (those squirt holes are bacteria hazards); foam letters or numbers she can stick to the side of the tub; or bathtub crayons (but make sure she doesn't eat them). Never leave your toddler's side in the bath even for a second. And to make your life easier, invest in a microfiber bath mat for outside the tub. It absorbs more water and dries much faster than a cotton bath mat. There is usally a lot of water splashed out of the tub at our house.

You might want to install a toilet lock. Toddlers love water. A top heavy toddler can fall in headfirst and drown. AT the very least, toddlers love to throw items in the toilet water, too, so you will be saving yourself some plumbing problems by locking the toilet. An alternative is to keep the bathroom door shut, but if you have older children, that is harder to do.

And as before, make sure cleaning supplies, medications, ointments and so on are inaccessible to your toddler. Keep them up high (my bathroom cleaning supplies are on a high shelf next to the ceiling) or in a locked cabinet. Medicines, ointments, and cosmetics need to be in a locked drawer or locked medicine cabinet.

In the bedroom/playroom:

You might want to move your child out of the crib if he or she is a climber. I know they sell tents that cover the crib, but a determined toddler will still find a way to climb, even if they can't get all the way out. You can get a toddler bed which uses the crib mattress; move to a twin bed with side rails; or put the crib or twin mattress on the floor. If you are concerned that your toddler will prowl the house at night or naptime, consider putting a gate in the doorway. I don't recommend locking a door on a toddler; I want to be able to visually check on my child from time to time.

Anchor any furniture that can be climbed to the wall. A toddler climbing his dresser drawers, or the bookcase, or changing table, or other piece of furniture can cause the furniture to fall over on top of him. Safety anchors are inexpensive and easy to install. In my experience, almost all toddlers are likely to climb at some point.

Make sure that windows are secure, especially if the bedroom is on a top floor. I make sure not to put any furniture under a window to remove most of the temptation, but space issues might not allow you to do so. If you have a window blind (I love the room-darkening ones) cut the cord high enough that it cannot be reached by your child. Or you can install a hook next to the window to loop any extra cord around. Toddlers have strangled themselves on window blind cords.

While we are on the subject of cords, make sure no toys have a string longer than twelve inches, as they pose a strangling hazard, too. And it is best to avoid drawstring clothing for a few more years.

Make sure all the toys and playthings are in safe shape, especially if they are hand me down toys. Ensure that no parts are loose, that wooden toys don't have splinters, and that the toys are age appropriate.

In the kitchen:

You probably already have knives, breakables, and other sharp objects out of reach. If not, put them up high or in a locked cabinet. Toddlers love to imitate your work, so give your child his own safe drawer or cabinet of kitchen tools he can use.

If you can, make it so you can gate off your cooking area. If not, don't leave the kitchen while something is cooking on the stove. A toddler can easily push a chair or box to the stove, climb up, and burn himself on the stove or hot liquid.

Do not carry hot liquid or food and your toddler at the same time. If anything, a toddler is more grabby than your baby was. If your toddlers uses a booster seat at the table, make sure hot food is not within her reach.

While your child is in a highchair or booster seat, don't leave her unattended. You'd be surprised how a determined toddler can undo the straps and climb out. Or maybe it's just mine!

Extra safety concerns:

Continue to keep electrical outlets covered either with furniture or outlet covers. Cleaning supplies in the kitchen and elsewhere need to be put up or locked up, if they aren't already.

If you have houseplants that your children haven't managed to kill y et, congratulations. You may want to check though to see if those plants are poisonous. And any heavy pots or large plants need to be down low, or too high to be reached, as they can be pulled over onto a child's head.

Your toddler is going to be very active and curious. He needs to learn to explore his world and use his body. Provide him with safe opportunities to climb; jump; pull or push objects (mine even likes to push a cardboard box around with toys in it); and splash in the water, whether kiddie pool or bathtub. Our job as parents is to keep these activities as safe and fun as possible.