General Childproofing for Your Home

Childproofing can be an overwhelming job, particularly if you have a large house and you have gotten used to a certain lifestyle and organizational style. Therefore, start early so that you have time to do the job well. You can begin by recognizing the dangers that exist throughout your house, as opposed to those dangers that appear in specific rooms. A few examples are listed below.

• Electrical Outlets: For less than five dollars you can purchase outlet covers that will present babies from sticking their fingers into wall outlets.
• Cords: Whether you have phone cords, computer cords, or extension cords, these cords can strangle a curious child, so remove unnecessary cords, and tape to the wall or otherwise adjust the necessary cords.
• Floors: Hardwood and tile floors can be dangerous if they have spills on them, and carpet floors can hide choking hazards between their fibers. Whichever type of flooring you have, make sure you keep your floors clean.
• Locked Items: What items do you need to lock out of children’s reach? Firearms should be kept in a gun safe, of course, but you should also conceal chemicals and medicine.
• Fire Safety: Keep matches out of the reach of children, but also make sure you maintain smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher in your home.
• Small Items: Broken toys can become choking hazards, while balloon fragments and plastic bags can cause suffocation. Avoid leaving anything on the ground that the child can put in his or her mouth.

Lock and/or use guards to keep doors and windows at least mostly closed. In addition, you should always be ready for an emergency. Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers, including your doctor and the Poison Control Center. In addition, become familiar with basic first-aid practices for young children, including choking maneuvers.