If you have a baby on the way, you probably already have a lot on your plate. But baby proofing your home should be your primary concern.
Thousands of infants die each year and are injured due to the hazards they encounter at home. However, with a little bit of care, many of these horrific incidents can be prevented.
Here are some helpful tips to make your home safe for your children.
Bedroom
Remove any cords from the bedroom that could get caught around your child’s necks. Keep all cords out of reach, including mobile and hanging toys. When setting up your crib, make sure it’s away from all cables. Infants can chew on cords and wires, resulting in heavy objects falling on them.
Pick a crib that doesn’t have any bars. If your crib has bars, make sure they aren’t too wide—because if your child can fit their head between the bars, there’s a risk they’ll strangle themselves. Make sure there are no erect corner posts, as they can catch your child’s clothing.
As your baby grows older and attempts to pull himself up, position the crib mattress to its lowest point, and remove all objects within reach that could be used to climb out of the crib. These include pillows, hanging crib toys, and bumpers.
Babies are at a high risk of electrical shock. If there are any electrical outlets within your child’s reach, make sure they’re closed off with safety plugs or covers that shut when the outlet isn’t in use.
Bathroom
As a general rule of thumb, you should under no circumstances leave your baby unattended in the bathtub or near a pool of water. Unintentional drowning is among the leading cause of death for infants worldwide.
Always make sure to check the temperature before placing your child in the tub to avoid scalding. The temperature needs to be between 100-120F, and you can use a thermometer to check the temperature. To prevent your child from slipping in the tub, don’t use non-skid rubber mats or decals. Never place your child directly under or within reach of the faucet, and use a faucet head with a special softcover.
Add a lock to your toilet seat to prevent drowning. Keep all electrical items such as blow-dryers, straighteners, and razors away from the bathroom and unplugged at all times. All medicines, vitamins, and cleaning supplies must be locked away.
Kitchen
Babies can wreak havoc in kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Remove all potentially hazardous, poisonous substances and sharp objects that are within reach. You should consider purchasing childproof safety locks to ensure complete safety. It’ll prevent your baby from not only ingesting dangerous substances but also smashing their fingers while opening and closing cabinet doors.
Keep all knives in locked cabinets. Turn the handles of pots and pans towards the stove, and keep hot foods away from reach. Additionally, buy toys thoughtfully—avoid buying anything that’s a choking hazard. Find toys that don’t have sharp edges and potentially harm your child and opt for tightly secured ones.
Accidents can happen at any time, so it’s best to be prepared. At Metro Safety, we offer Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 First Aid Training courses in Burnaby, Vancouver, Coquitlam, Richmond, and Surrey.
Contact us at 604-521-4227 or email us at info@metrosafety.ca for more info.
