- Use common sense: Choose a toy chest that won't slam on fingers and has ventilation holes. Don't put furniture, especially kids' furniture, near open windows or long cords. Add smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Keep little things from paper clips to small china dolls away from children.
- Make the floors safe: Remove rugs that kids can trip on. Install non-slip or slip-resistant floors in bathrooms.
- Lighting can help: Add night lights at the top and bottom of stairs, in the bathroom, and in halls leading the bathrooms and bedrooms.
- Shower and bath safety: Put slip-proof mats on the bottoms of showers and tubs. Install sturdy bars to hold on to. Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Secure toilet lids down with a lock.
- Remove clutter on stairs: Piling things on the stairs until you go to the second floor is an accident waiting to happen. Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
- Reorganize the garage: Put everything up out of the reach of little hands. Secure shelving, rakes, and tools to the wall. Remove old refrigerators or other hazards kids can climb in to.
- Kitchen safety: Put lock guards on kitchen cabinets kids can reach. Add oven locks and stove-knob covers. Keep counters clear. Remove cords, glass, hot drinks, and knives that kids can pull down upon themselves.
- Cover electrical outlets: Inexpensive plastic covers are available at hardware stores to cover outlets so kids can't shock themselves.
- Cushion corners: Cover sharp edges with foam to prevent injuries.
- Fireplaces: Add glass doors, a preventative railing, or don't use it when children are around.
- Doors: Secure folding doors and sliding doors with special locks. Add a jingle bell to your child's bedroom door so you can hear when she goes in and out of her room.
- Buy cordless phones: This way you can keep an eye on little ones while on the telephone.
How to Kid-Proof Your Home
by Learnthat.com Staff on Wednesday, November 24, 2004
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