By Marcie L. Arnold for LIFELines
When it comes to babies and children, you can never be too safe. Parents or parents-to-be place their children's safety as a top priority, but creating a safe environment at home is a big challenge. Fortunately, there is a great deal of information available on how and when to get started.
Where and When to Start
It's never too early to begin transforming your home. The process can take longer than you imagine, and may even reveal more areas of concern.
The first step is to identify potential dangers, so get on your hands and knees and take a peek at the world from a baby's or toddler's view. While you're crawling around, you may come across items that you should move to a different location for safekeeping, such as books and breakables on lower shelves, and things that you store under the bed.
Do you have house plants on tippable stands or in large containers on the floor? Do vines or electrical cords dangle down within reach? Do you have plug-ins with aromatic oil or nightlights in lower outlets? How about that tangle of computer or audio/video cables? You can get flexible plastic tubing to tame all those wires and keep them out of curious little mouths.
If you notice safety problems in a product, report it to the Consumer Products Safety Commission,(800) 638-2772. The CPSC also provides product recall information.
Bedroom
Your child's furniture should meet the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association requirements for safety. You will see their seal on each approved piece. In a crib, the spaces between the slats should not exceed 2 1/16 inches, and you should make sure the mattress fits securely in the frame, with no gaps. Babies can slip down into such a gap and suffocate.
The crib itself should be located away from windows, mirrors, table lamps, floor lamps, heaters, and fans. Never put pillows, stuffed animals, or extra bedding in the crib with the child. This helps prevent suffocation of younger children. Older infants can step up on these things, get over the rail of the crib, and fall.
If window shades or blinds have pull cords, cut the ends so theres no loop on which a child could get caught. If the window will be open in hot weather, don't assume the screen will hold if a child bumps against it — install a safety bar.
Bathroom
A huge danger in bathrooms is drowning. It only takes a few inches of water to create a hazard. The most important thing to remember is to never leave a child unattended. This means letting the answering machine pick up your phone calls or getting a cordless phone.
Another danger in the bathroom is hot-water burns. It is recommended that you lower your water heater temperature to 120°F. There are also products available to cover metal water spouts that will greatly reduce the risk of burns.
Two other areas of concern are the toilet and medication and vitamins. Consider installing a toilet lock to prevent a drowning accident and the spread of nasty germs. Always keep medications and vitamins out of reach or — better yet — under lock and key.
Kitchen
Kitchens are an unending source of fascination and danger for children. You should secure all cabinets with childproof locks. A good suggestion is to designate one lower cabinet for the child to have access to and fill it with plastic ware or other safe items. Consider using an oven lock and removing the knobs from your stove. While cooking, always turn pot handles away from the front of the stove and use the back burners whenever possible. This will help to prevent burn accidents.
Keep in mind that your home will provide its own unique dangers, so be sure to tailor your safety regimen to the needs of your family. With so much information available about how to make your home safe, everyone can create a safe environment for children.
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