Unintentional injury is a top killer in the U.S., specifically in terms of children. Taking preventative measures in order to make the home safer can almost certainly eliminate the risks of unintentional harm. The precocious actions that you have to take in order to protect your loved ones within the home most definitely vary per situation. Therefore, we must address each space that the baby interacts with accordingly, to make sure that you can take the steps towards a safer and more protective home environment for your child.
Baby-Proofing The Home
- Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector.
- Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and in the hallways outside of bedrooms.
- Purchase a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
- Stock your medicine cabinet.
- Put non-slip pads under all rugs.
- Cover all sharp furniture edges and corners with bumpers or safety padding.
- Block all open outlets with furniture or use safety plugs.
- Latch closed any drawers, doors or cupboards within baby’s reach.
- Make sure your home or apartment number is easy to see so fire or rescue can locate you quickly in an emergency.
- Check the house and yard for poisonous plants and move them out of baby’s reach
- Always store your and visitors’ purses out of baby’s reach.
- If you plan to hook a highchair to your kitchen table, check that the table is sturdy and strong.
Baby-Proofing The Nursery
- Place baby wipes and supplies where you can reach them from the changing table but baby can’t.
- Put a thick rug or carpet below the changing table.
- Position the crib away from windows, heaters, lamps, wall decoration and cords.
- Finish all painting and wallpapering at least eight weeks before the baby is expected to avoid exposing the baby to any potentially harmful fumes.
- Check that none of the crib slats are more than two and 3/8 inches apart, and that all the bolts and screws are tight. Make sure there are no gaps between the mattress and crib
- Keep bumpers, comforters, pillows, blankets and toys out of the crib.
Baby-Proofing The Car
Safety does not stop within the home. The car is actually the first place your baby may encounter a hazard once leaving the hospital! Here are some ways to ensure car safety:
- Install an approved rear-facing car seat in the back seat (in the middle, if possible) and get it inspected.
- If the sun is strong in your area, apply stick-on sun shades to the back windows to block the rays (but avoid ones that hang or connect with suction cups, which can fall or pop off).
- Clear the car of any small objects that could be choking hazards, such as coins and pens.
As shown, baby proofing is an extremely important preventative measure that must take place in order to ensure the safety of your child. These measures must be checked and altered with time as the child ages. Next week, we will discuss how to keep your baby-turned-child safe within the home 🙂
(Source: https://www.thebump.com/ )