How To Child Proof Your Apartment

Once your baby starts moving around, you need to know how to child proof your home for the safety of baby. Apart from accident prone areas such as the bathroom and kitchen, other areas can be dangerous for your little one as well. This is because houses are constructed with adults in mind. Anything from the staircase to plug points can be dangerous for an active and curious child.

Electrical Sockets

Check your home for electrical sockets within the child's reach. Cover these with special covers that can be purchased at any electrical store. Make sure that you check for electrical sockets that your child can reach by climbing a stool or chair as well.

Sharp-Edged Objects

Keep all sharp-edged objects away from the child's reach.

Staircase

Consider fixing a temporary gate across the staircase so that your baby will not come tumbling down.

Bathroom

Keep all medicines, cleaners, soaps and shampoos out of reach of your child at all times. Keep the bathroom door locked except during bathing and potty training time. Supervise bathing times continuously.

Spout covers are available that prevent bumped heads. Use bath mats with non-slip surfaces to line the bottom of the tub. This will help prevent slips and injuries. Some bath mats come with a heat indicator. This will tell you when the water is too hot for your little one.

Don't leave electrical appliances in the bathroom where the child bathes. This can lead to dangerous consequences for the child. Toilet locks and cabinet locks will also go a long way in keeping your child out of the bathroom unless absolutely supervised.

Don't throw razor blades or expired medicines into the trash can. A curious toddler can easily injure herself while exploring the trash can.

Kitchen

The first thing you need to do to make your kitchen child safe is reorganize your storing system. Matches, lighters, knives, forks and other sharp-edged tools are all dangerous in the hands of a child. Store these in a cupboard accessible only to adults. Remember that children can easily climb onto chairs and counter tops to access cabinets. Keep these locked with childproof locks.

Other tips for keeping the kitchen child proof include:

• Unplug all appliances when not in use, and keep the cords out of reach.
• Keep hot liquids away from your child's arm length. They can easily be spilled onto the child and cause injuries.
• Use only the back burners of the stove and make sure that the pot handles face away from you and the child at all times.
• Free-standing ovens should be secured to the wall.
• Use a child safety gate to keep children out of the kitchen when you are in another room.
• Put a child safe lid on the trash can. Consider taking broken glass immediately to the outside trash can.
• Have a fire extinguisher ready in the kitchen. Be prepared to take your child and rush out of the house as soon as a fire starts. Call the fire department from outside your home.

By taking these precautions and installing child safe locks in all cabinets, you will be able to child proof your home. Bear in mind that the best safety comes from the watchful eyes of the parent minding the child.