Child Proofing Your Home

It is way past the time to safety proof my home. I came to this realization this morning when my phone rang. The cordless phone was dead, so I had to use the one connected to the wall. The baby was at my feet. Then, in a moment's notice, he's gone.

I set the phone down and started screaming his name throughout the house. Well, he went straight to the bathroom. I should have known. He likes to pull all the toilet paper off the roll. But on this morning, the toilet seat had been left up. So, this was a whole new adventure for him. I walk into the bathroom and he's standing at the toilet splashing toilet water all over himself. And laughing. Did I mention he was cracking up? I could help but smile at the little cutie even thought the situation was completely disgusting!

I learned my lesson. I am putting those safety knobs on all the doors in my house and getting a new cordless phone. (and making sure the other two boys in the house put the toilet seat down.)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says:

About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child safety devices on the market today.

1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines and household cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects. Typical cost of a safety latch or lock: less than $2.
2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas. New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have an older safety gate, be sure it doesn't have "V" shapes that are large enough for a child's head and neck to fit into. Typical cost of a safety gate: $13 to $40.
3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. To prevent access to swimming pools, door locks should be placed high out of reach of young children. Locks should be used in addition to fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with locks that must be re-secured after each use, are often not an effective barrier to pools. Cost of a door knob cover: $1 and door lock: $5 and up.
4. Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can help prevent burns. Cost: of an anti-scald device: $6 to $30.
5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Cost: $10
6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Cost: $8 to $16.
7. Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Cost: $1
8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution. Cost:$2.
9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning. Cost:$30 to $70.
10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops. You can get window blind cord safety information and free tassels by calling 1-800-506-4636 or visiting http://www.windowcoverings.org/
11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges. Cost:$4.
12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas. Cost:$30 and up.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen