How to Child Proof Your Home

Children are incredible, and most of us want to have them around. However, many of them are also hyperactive and want to pull down the whole house if allowed. They can climb unimaginable heights, move every movable item, and open just about anything. Unlike adults, children do not know when to stop, so, if you don’t take the proper measures to keep them safe, they may be subject to severe injury or even death. 

Since you may not always be there to monitor your child and their movements, it is crucial for you to at least, childproof your home. This way, you prevent your child from suffering unintentional injuries which are a common cause of emergency room visits and severe injuries to children. 

Here are a few childproofing ideas: 

1. If you have a low end table or ottoman with sharp edges, you child could slip and hit their head on the sharp edges of these objects. So, consider, using foam cushions to cover the edges of the tables and ottomans. 
2. Children who are six months and above want to grab everything within their reach. Make sure you keep prescription medicines in their containers and store them in drawers.
3. In your kitchen, you want to prevent your child from gaining access to poisonous household products, and you can do this by installing safety latches on drawers and cabinets. You can also store poisonous products on higher cabinets or shelves.
4. Installing toilet locks will ensure that your toilet lid is always closed. Kids could want to lean over the toilet; this can make them slip and fall into the toilet bowl. 
5. If you make use of electric rollers and hair dryers, make sure you unplug them from the power supply after each use. Such electrical devices when they come in contact with water in the bathroom can electrocute your child.
6. Your child can easily sustain third-degree burns when they touch warm water. So, to prevent such scalding injuries from hot water, install anti-scalding shower valves on shower heads and faucets. Also, ensure you set the thermostat of the water heater to 120 degrees, rather than 140 degrees.
7. Uncovered electrical outlets can pose a danger to your child. So, if there are such unused outlets that are uncovered, cover them up. Children can stick metals like forks or even their hands into such outlets, leading to electrocution.
8. Make sure you install safety gates at doorways that lead to attics, basements, stairs and other areas in your house that could be unsafe for your child.
9. Use anchor straps to anchor down any large furniture, dressers, desks, etc. that could fall over if your child climbs them.
10. If you have a swimming pool, then buy pool covers that can strap down to prevent your child from falling into the water and drowning.
11. Ensure your yard is fenced and gated to prevent your child from strolling outside and endangering their lives.
12. Household devices like ovens should be properly installed above the reach of children.
13. Breakable items like cups and plates should be properly locked away in a cabinet.
14. Consider installing padded mats at the bottom of stairs so that even if your child accidentally falls, they may not sustain serious injuries.
15. If you have a window that is not above ground level, make sure you install window guards in such windows. Also, never leave your child alone in a room with an open window.

The above are some tips on how to childproof your home. Remember, there are still more you could do to childproof your home. So, depending on the peculiarities of your home, you need to come up with measures on how to prevent your child from getting to the danger zones.