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Five Tips to Baby Proofing Your Home: 0-12 Months
The Consumer Product Safety Commission or CPSC (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/pub_idx.html) reports that ‘2.5 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year.’ Most of these injuries can be prevented by taking the proper precautions and baby proofing your home. Although it can be a little confusing on where to start, here are five tips to follow when baby proofing your home:
1. Start Low Get down on all fours and crawl around like a baby. Sound strange? This is actually one of the best ways to see what needs to be baby proofed in your home. Look for ways that your baby can get into trouble and start your baby proofing project from there.
2. Cut the cords Blind cords are something that every child wants to play with. Cutting these cords or using safety tassels can help prevent strangulation.
3. Covers and bumpers One of the mainstays of baby proofing your home will be items such as outlet covers, door knob covers and bumpers for those sharp or dangerous edges. Be generous with what you cover.
4. Latches and locks Another key component of a successful baby proofing system is locking cabinets with poisonous chemicals or doors that can be used as an escape route. Cabinet latches mean that baby cannot get to cleaning products or anything else in the cabinet. Locks on doors mean that the little one will stay inside.
5. Gates Safety gates can be used for a variety of needs. They can keep baby in the room or keep baby out of a room. Gates are a necessity for stairs and any place else that poses a hazard for your child.
Properly baby proofing your home can insure that your child does not become a statistic. Start today and don’t worry about going overboard because you can never be too safe when it comes to your child.
