As any mom knows, toddlers can be extremely hard work, and making sure that they’re safe at all times can be difficult – especially when your back is turned. As soon your toddler can stand and begin to take their first steps, they’ll become much more adventurous around the home. While this is an exciting stage of their young life, there are also many elements of your home that will now present themselves as hazards. Thinking outside of the box when it comes to child safety is essential so that your toddler can move freely in the home.
If you’re keen to find out how to make your home toddler-proof, here are just a few pointers you’ll need to bear in mind:
1. Stair Gates
Stairs are an extremely dangerous part of the home. Thanks to your toddler’s inquisitive mind, they’ll be keen to challenge themselves to climb stairs after watching other people moving between stories.
Until your toddler can confidently walk without guidance, it would be highly advised to purchase a baby gate for stairs. This will prevent them from climbing and potentially falling from top to bottom, which can cause serious injury.
These gates aren’t just designed for stairs, though; they’re also a useful way of preventing your child from crawling into rooms that you’d rather keep them out of, such as the kitchen (due to the obvious health hazards) or the dog’s sleeping quarters.
2. Sharp Objects
As soon as your toddler learns to walk, they’re bound to come face to face with sharp corners, which could result in facial injuries. Make sure that all sharp objects are put away or covered with padding to prevent nasty wounds. It would also be a good idea to place photo frames out of reach of little fingers. If a photo frame is dropped, the glass can shatter across the floor and remain unnoticed for weeks, until an injury occurs.
3. Candles and Matches
Never underestimate your toddler’s intuition. If a matchbox is left lying around, it’s sure to appeal to their curiosity; they may have the ability to light a match and start a house fire. Keep matchboxes in a top drawer and lock away as an extra safety measure. Make sure to keep candles out of reach too. If wax is chewed and swallowed, it can cause choking.
4. Window Guards
Toddlers are keen to climb, so if windows are left open, they’ll be inclined to want to explore outside of the four walls. Windows should only open to a maximum of 3 inches wide or be fitted with a window guard. This is especially important if you live on a main road or in a busy city such as New York, where your child may be at greater risk of harm if they happen to escape.
5. Cordless Blinds
Window blinds are an attractive interior feature, but they are known to be one of the major health hazards in the home for toddlers. Loop cords hanging from blinds have the potential to cause injury or death by strangling in just a matter of seconds.
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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