6 Tips for Correctly Installing Child Safety Equipment in Your Home

With a baby or a toddler in the house, child safety equipment in every room is essential for keeping your little ones out of danger. Finding equipment that’s designed to last and do it's job well is only half the battle. You also need to install them properly and in the right places.

Kitchen

A kitchen can be a very dangerous place to a small child. Make sure you install safety latches on all the doors and cabinets, especially on those cupboards that contain cleaning fluids and drawers with knives. Good latches can be some of the most durable child safety equipment you’ll buy, generally lasting until your child has outgrown the need for them.

Always keep sharp items out of the way when you’re not using them and keep them out of reach of kids. Make sure appliance cords don’t dangle over the counter tops.

Workshop

Ideally, you won’t have a baby or toddler in your workshop but if you do, have a playpen there for your little one. This keeps them out of the way of trouble while you work. Buy outlet covers for all outlets throughout the house that the child can reach. In the workshop, you shouldn’t use outlets at this level anyway.

Bathroom

Buy a spout cover for the faucets on the bathtub. This way, if your child falls against it, he or she won’t be hurt. Put a removable rubber non-slip mat in the bath. This will stop the child from sliding under the water or falling in the bath.

A lid lock on the toilet can prevent the accidental drowning of a curious toddler, and safety latches on a medicine cabinet will keep medicines out of reach of children.

Family Room

All through the family room, you’ll need to put covers on all the outlets. If you have a glass coffee table, replace it with a different material because if your child falls through it, he or she can be serious injured.

Put thick rubber corners on your coffee table and dining table. These can prevent injuries if your child bumps into the table corners. Like safety latches, these are very durable pieces of child safety equipment, and you probably won’t ever have to replace them.

Stairs

You will need to put safety gates at both the bottom and the top of the stairs, not just at the top. Otherwise, a child can climb the stairs and fall backwards. Expansion gates are good for stairs protection, but permanent, hinged gates are easier to use on a regular basis. Safety gates are one of the most basic and important forms of child safety equipment.

Nursery

Make sure that the changing table in your nursery has adequately raised edges so your baby can’t roll off.

Keep the crib away from hanging cords of all kinds, including electrical wiring and blind pulls. Put locks on the windows that will only let you open the windows to around 4 inches but not wide enough for your toddler to crawl out.

Make sure all the toys for your baby are large enough. Never give a baby or toddler small toys, as they might swallow them and choke.