Unintentional injuries that happen at home are a real health risk for children in the US. Prevention can lessen the risk of these injuries leaving your home safer for your child to enjoy. Taking the proper measures to keep your family safe may eliminate a lot of regrets. Your home is a potentially dangerous place for your child, and it’s important that you baby proof it. Some parents are not aware of how to baby proof a home while others overestimate their ability to watch every move their child makes. Every room should be childproofed to prevent injuries to a baby.
Living room
This is the room that the child will spend most of the time in. Here are tips on what to do in the living room:
Matches and candles should be out of reach. It doesn’t matter how small the baby is, they might accidentally light a match and start a fire. A child can also chew on the candle, choking on the wax.
Photo frames should be up and away. If the photo frame is on an unstable surface and the child knocks it over, the glass can shatter and cut or hit them. Mount photo frames on the wall if possible.
TV’s should be mounted. If the kid tries to climb on a table where the set is placed, it can fall on them. Mount the TV securely on the wall and anchor the TVs on the stands as well.
Covered fireplace. If you have a fireplace, the child can fall and hurt themselves on the stony hearth. Install heat resistant gates and a shield to prevent stray sparks and also to prevent the child from throwing something in the fire.
Glass table. The glass table edges are dangerous for a child who is learning to walk. The edges can severely cut the child, and if the table is not tempered, it can be shattered easily.
Bedroom
Set up the crib safely. Once the child can sit up, lower the crib mattress. Also, make sure the crib is stable and anchor it on the wall to avoid it toppling over if it is shaken by the child. Stuffed animals are a suffocation hazard for the baby. Get a fixed sided crib instead of a drop sided one to avoid suffocation.
The window blinds should be cordless, and the window should have a guard. The window in that room should open three inches only and have a window guard. If the window curtains have a looped cord, the child can get their neck caught in the cord and become strangled.
Balloons and crayons should be out of reach. Latex balloons should be kept away from a child to avoid suffocation. A child’s little hands can snap the crayon making it small enough to choke on. If a popped balloon enters the mouth, it can drape over the entrance to the larynx covering it, possibly suffocating the child.
Kitchen
This is the most dangerous room for a child in the house. To be on the safe side, make sure the kitchen is gated and off limits.
Published on 2018-09-21 22:57:16
