How to Childproof Your Home

Childproofing your home is very important for safety reasons. Although everyone has a different situation, there are several areas in your home to apply safety. The first safety issue that comes to mind are the cabinets. Cabinets are the most important area to secure. Poisonous items and other toxic chemicals are stored in the cabinets. You can secure your cabinets with latches that safely attach to the doors. You can find many safety items for the cabinets or drawers online at the Baby Proofing Shop. The prices range from 3.99 all the way up to 32.99 depending on what type of latch or lock you desire.

Bookcases are another safety hazard. They can tip over and fall on a child, which can cause a terrible injury. Using an anchor harness can help secure it to the wall. Attach one end of the bookcase to the wall by using the harness and adjusting the strap to hold the bookcase tightly. This will help keep the bookcase secure and keep it from falling. You can find an anchor harness online at Kids Safe.

Plastic protectors for electrical sockets are a must have in your home. These will keep children from poking their little fingers in the electrical outlets. Toilet locks are also great for keeping the little ones out of the toilet. These items are made of plastic and you can find them at any home improvement store or other retail stores like Wal- Mart. You can also find them online at One Step Ahead.

There are several other items to look for when childproofing your home. Baby gates can be helpful in keeping children in a confined area. Also add door knob covers to rooms you don't want your young ones to enter. Securing refrigerator doors with an appliance latch is another good idea. Blinds with loop cords should be replaced because these can be a strangulation hazard. Phones with long cords can also be a danger. Adding corner and edge bumper covers on furniture to help protect little ones heads might be beneficial to you. Adding nonslip pads to area rugs is another good idea. Plus, keep in mind that indoor plants should be kept out of reach of children.

For a nursery you should remember to keep the crib, babypen, and other furniture away from any windows, wall hangings, or heater vents. The crib should have a mattress that is firm. It should fit snugly into the crib. Placing stuffed animals, blankets, comforters, pillows, or other bedding in the crib could be dangerous to the infant. Also, slats in the crib should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Posts in the corner should be 1/16 inch unless it's a canopy crib. A diaper changing table should have a strap attached and all your changing supplies should be in close reach. You can add extra carpeting under the crib and changing area to help soften any accidental fall. Although everyone has a different situation, hopefully this will help you on your way to childproofing your home.

resources:

www.kidsafeinc.com
www.babyproofingshop.com
www.onestepahead.com
www.childproofmyhome.com