Breastfeeding

Childbirth

Child Safety

Grief

Newborns

Parenting

Jealousy

Stress

Postpartum

Preconception

Pregnancy

Parenting

Childproofing your Home

Stains on the carpet and spills on the couch are one thing, but childproofing your home to make it safer for baby is an important part of parenting. You can reduce the risk of injury to children in the home by approaching it from a “baby’s eye view” (literally) to give you a better idea of exactly what might be appealing or accessible to a child. The general safety of the home should be evaluated, but so should each individual room, as bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms each have their own specific risks. So get down on your hands and knees, crawl around and explore, because that’s how to see the world from your baby’s perspective.

GENERAL SAFETY

• It’s key that the basics of the home, like electrical and plumbing, are maintained for the general safety for all persons in the home.
• Make sure all unused electrical outlets have plug protectors.
• To help prevent lead poisoning, make sure painted surfaces are not chipping.
• Pets are often the “first children” in the home but lose their standing when a baby joins the family. Monitor the activity between pets and children.
• Keeping a first-aid kit on hand will leave you better prepared to tend to minor injuries.
• Keep firearms and ammunition separate and impossible to reach by children.
• Don’t allow anyone to smoke around your baby; exposure to tobacco smoke has been identified as a significant risk factor for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

BEDROOMS
A crib in front of a window might look picture-perfect for a nursery, but other than your child of course, things that look perfect rarely are. A window usually has blinds and curtains or other treatments that baby might get tangled in, or your neighbor might accidentally send a rock through that same window when he mows his yard. And everyday items in Mom and Dad’s room, like prescriptions, nail files, and pocket change, could pose a serious threat to a curious babe.

KITCHENS
Toddlers like to explore and “do” what Mom and Dad do, which means arranging the food in the refrigerator, loading and unloading the dishwasher, and cooking. In the fridge, make sure baby can’t reach heavy items that could fall on her little feet. In the dishwasher, always unload sharp items first; babies have a keen sense for spotting a knife. And when cooking, always use the back burners when possible, and keep hot items away from the edges of counters and tables, its amazing how far little fingers can stretch into the unknown.

BATHROOMS
Store medicines and cosmetics out of reach; they are often fragrant and attract baby. Make sure all appliances, like hairdryers, are unplugged and inaccessible. “Open” and “close” are great concepts for babies to learn, but not when it’s opening and closing the doors to the cabinet where household cleaners are stored; use a childproof latch to make it impossible for baby to get into these dangerous chemicals. When baby is ready for the “big tub” use a rubber mat or non-stick decals to keep her from sliding around during bath time.

FIRE SAFETY
The idea of a house fire is pretty frightening, but many fire safety issues can be simply addressed to make your home safer for baby and the entire family. First, ensure that you have smoke detectors with working batteries, and second, have extra batteries. Third, always have two unrestricted exits from your home and an accessible window in each bedroom. It’s also a good idea to have not only a fire extinguisher, but also a fire evacuation plan so that your family will know where to go if they must escape a fire in the home. Heating sources are common causes of house fires, make sure your fireplace or portable heater is in good working order, and that objects like curtains, bed linens, and clothing are kept far away from it. Even seemingly safe objects like nightlights can start fires.

It’s a baby’s job to explore, that’s how he learns. His exploration includes a lot of touching and feeling with his hands, but even more with his mouth. So when in doubt, keep it out of baby’s reach, and take simple precautions now to avoid potentially dangerous situations in the future. 

Misty Johnson, B.S., LSW
HANDS Program Social Services Coordinator