Making your home safe for kids and babies is about more than just covering the electrical outlets. It takes quite a bit of planning to truly childproof a home because every living space is different. However, there are basic principles you can follow that apply to every layout, and this article will explain how it’s done.

The risks of not childproofing your home

Each year, 2,300 children under 15 die, and over 3.4 million are unintentionally injured at home. The sad reality is that many of these situations are common and preventable. Not taking steps to childproof your home can have dire consequences for you as well. 

For instance, if you are taking care of someone else’s child and they become injured on your property, the parents might sue you. If they can prove negligence, you could lose your case and be required to pay a large sum for damages.

Injuries in the home are common

The leading causes of injury at home include:

·   Choking and suffocation

·   Drowning

·   Falls

·   Fire and burns

·   Guns

·   Poisoning

Although genuine accidents happen, most safety risks can be reduced and even eliminated with the right decisions.

1. Fasten your furniture to the wall

You never know when a child will try to climb a piece of furniture for fun. Unfortunately, that can cause serious injury when the piece of furniture comes crashing down on top of your child. Kids will climb the furniture in their room, including dressers, so it’s important to secure everything to the wall.

While it’s good to secure heavy furniture to the wall, don’t forget the smaller, shorter pieces, too. Kids can get hurt by any piece of furniture.

2. Secure your firearms

Every year, nearly 22,000 kids are injured or killed by a firearm. Many of these incidents are accidental and happen in the home.

It should go without saying that all firearms should be secured in a locked safe or box when you have children in the house. It’s smart to teach young children about gun safety and explain that they should never touch or pick up a gun under any circumstance, but many kids do it anyway. Some kids show off their parents’ guns to their friends, and other times, it’s the friends who find the guns and handle them improperly.

3. Remove steps that don’t lead to other rooms

Some homes are built with small steps that only take you a few inches lower into the same room. It’s usually just one or two steps that lead to a lower area, like a sunken living room. These recessions are dangerous for both kids and adults, especially when camouflaged by crazy designs.

Some people choose to remodel their home completely, but if you can’t do that, consider adding a railing around the edge with a gate that only adults can open. You can always remove the railing when your kids get old enough to navigate the steps safely.

4. Get in the habit of picking up small things immediately

Kids love to put small objects in their mouths, and that’s exactly how many of them end up choking. Whether you drop a battery, coins, or small toys, be sure to pick everything up right away. When you develop this habit, your kids are less likely to encounter a choking hazard.

5. Cover your stove knobs

What child doesn’t love to run around the house pushing every button and turning every knob possible? Unfortunately, this type of fun can turn into an injury if they start messing around with the stove. It can also cause a fire if you’re unaware they’ve turned on a burner or three.

Childproof covers for stove knobs are a great solution, or you can just take your existing knobs off and keep them nearby in a bowl.

6. Use a childproof trash can cover

It’s not just the family dog who might tear up the trash if given the opportunity. Small children might get into the trash can and either make a giant mess or hurt themselves on something sharp, like the lid from that can of chili you served for dinner last night.

Don’t compromise when creating a safe space for your child

Childproofing your home is fairly easy, but it will happen in stages. As your kids get older, you’ll need to implement new protections to keep them safe. Be proactive and assess potential hazards on a regular basis. 

A little effort will give you peace of mind knowing your child is safe in your home.