I’m excited to bring you an awesome guest post today, written by Cheri! Baby proofing is such a big and important task, and this post brings to light a couple of the less-obvious baby proofing essentials! I hope you enjoy!
Having a baby is an exciting time in any couple’s lives. At first, you don’t have to worry about childproofing. However, as your child becomes more mobile, childproofing your home becomes increasingly necessary. Basic childproofing includes securing the cabinets, putting the possible poisons on higher shelves, and putting outlet covers on all the outlets. Here are some additional childproofing tips that are a less common.
Childproof your pool
Every year, approximately 250 U.S. children die due to drowning in pools. Thousands more end up hospitalized and suffer from permanent brain damage.
Ways to childproof the pool include installing locking devices on all gates and exterior doors that can possibly lead to the pool. Additionally, having an alarm that chimes each time the pool door opens is beneficial. Some zoning laws also require a fence around a pool to keep the neighbor’s children safe from drowning. In fact, this is still a good idea even if your zoning laws don’t require it. A fence of at least four feet can lower your homeowner’s insurance in many cases.
Not only is it a good idea to childproof your pool, but it can also lower your homeowner’s insurance. Click here for more tips on how making your pool safer can change your rates and save you money.
Secure Your Windows
Nearly 5,000 children are injured by falling out of windows yearly. Locking windows is a great way to keep children safe. If you have double-hung windows, opening them from the top rather than the bottom is another way to keep children safe. Commercially available window stops or guards can also prevent children from falling out of windows.
Installing Baby Gates
Any parent will tell you that baby gates are essential for keeping kids safe. This is particularly true if your house has stairs. However, the traditional gates that are held in place through pressure can often do more harm than good. Not only have children been known to injure themselves by pulling these gates on top of them, but these gates can even fall forward.
If a gate at the top of stairs falls forward, then your child could go tumbling down. Instead, invest in the types of gates screw directly to the wall. Most of these types of gates have a built in door. Allowing the adults to come and go at will, but closes automatically. This reduces the chance that the gate will be left open.
Secure the Furniture
When children are first learning to walk, they pull themselves up on everything. While this is a harmless practice when they are pulling on an easy chair, a table, or a bed, it can turn dangerous very quickly. Specifically, it can turn dangerous when they’re pulling up on bookshelves, entertainment centers or dressers. To prevent toppling, bolt these kinds of items to the wall. Making sure all the appliances are pushed all the way to back of their perches can also help alleviate these kinds of accidents.
Having a child is an exciting time in people’s lives. There will be many exciting events of childhood. By taking a little care with childproofing, you can help ensure a safe, happy and uneventful childhood for everyone involved. What other precautions are you taking to ensure your child’s safety?
Can you think of any other less-conventional baby proofing essentials? Share in comments!
Author Bio:
Cheri, a UCLA graduate and a new mom, has had a passion for writing for as long as she can remember. From journals to informational articles and more, Cheri has written on a large variety of topics. Be sure to find cheri on her Twitter page to keep up with her latest writing!
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