Having toddlers at home can be a tough job for moms and dads. Parents need to be on their toes at all times and keep an eye on their little ones who may be exploring around the house without their knowledge.
Reports say that injuries incurred at home are one of the major reasons kids aged 3 and below visit the hospital emergency room (ER). Also, death resulting from unintentional injuries at home affects almost 70 percent of kids aged 4 and under.
Constant supervision is key to avoiding kid-related injuries in the home. Making sure that certain areas of the house are free from hazards is very important.
Living Room and Bedrooms
In the living room and bedrooms, cover edges of tables with plastic corners. You may also use a foam rubber secured with a rubber band.
The doors need to be locked or opened permanently. This way, your child’s fingers won’t get trapped there.
Windows have to be locked or secured with a stopper so they can’t be opened by your little one. The stopped should be placed at the top part of the window if possible.
Avoid using loose rugs and carpets as your toddler still learning to walk can trip on them. Make sure that you put stoppers or rubber matting underneath the carpets.
Electrical sockets have to be covered with a plastic covering. And be sure that the covering is one that can’t be easily removed by a child.
Kitchen
In the kitchen, there are a lot of things that need to be kept out of children’s reach. All kinds of cleaning products have to be kept in a drawer that should be locked at all times.
Shorten electrical cords so your kid can’t grab it. You may install a cord holder or find a way to shorten the cords by folding them and tying them with a string.
After cooking, turn the handles of pans towards the wall. This will prevent your kid from grabbing it when he or she passes the stove. Knobs on the stove should also be kept secure so it won’t be turned on by a small child. The oven door should have a catch as well so it won’t be easily opened.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, you can secure the toilet lid by using a clip attachment. Do ensure that the bath and basin plugs are kept out of reach to avoid them being filled with water.
Don’t forget to adjust the thermostat on the boiler to prevent scalding when your toddler is able to turn on the tap.
Finally, medicines, tablets and vitamins need to be kept securely and locked in the medicine cabinet. I possible, install a medicine cabinet that is out of children’s reach as well.
Photo via parent24.com
About the guest author:
Nina is a mother of three who runs a small online business at home. Visit Homeinsurance.com if you have any queries about the types of insurance you can have for your home.
Originally posted on January 22, 2013 @ 6:17 am
