It is true, there is no place like home.
A home should not just be a place where your child can grow, learn, explore, see, touch and experience the world around him/her;
It should also be a place where your child should feel safe and secured.
Regardless, injuries can happen to your children even when you least expect, and it’s almost impossible to avoid or prevent them from falling. When they fall, they can sustain bruises or even serious injuries.
Imagine how terrified your child will be if the home isn’t safe or if they get injured frequently – or find household objects scary.
Every parent worries so much about how to protect their children from abduction by strangers or violence, but many forget that home accidents can also be a threat to their child’s well-being and safety.
You should, therefore, endeavour to make your home child-safe even before your baby is born. This is to avoid any domestic hazard or accident so that when they start exploring their surroundings, there will be less to worry about.
With that being said, it is very important for you to take all safety precautions to protect your child at home.
Here are some awesome tips to help you keep your home safe for children of all ages.
- PREVENT CONCRETE FLOORS
Children, especially toddlers, are at risk of falling because they are yet to fully control their movement, particularly during playtime or when they climb the stairs.
It is therefore advisable to avoid concrete or ceramic tile floors in play areas to reduce serious injuries associated with falling.
You can also rug up your children’s room to reduce slippery surfaces.
- PUT FURNITURE IN PLACE
Children like climbing furniture.
Furniture like drawers, bookshelves, and cupboard can be attached to the wall to avoid children turning them over.
On a safe note, turn away all furniture with sharp corners from where your child runs around or plays. Put the things your children will need within their reach and also keep furniture away from play toys to avoid climbing or being tempted to climb.
As a last resort, you can move all furniture presently not in use to a part of the house your children don’t use.
- INSTALL SAFETY GATES OR RAIL
When your baby starts to crawl, it will be quite difficult to keep him/her from stairways.
Nevertheless, you can install safety rails or gates to reduce falling.
In addition, ensure the spaces in-between the rails are not wide enough for their head to pass through – because most children while playing get their head stuck in there.
- MANAGING APPLIANCES
Try keeping all household electrical appliances ranging from microwaves, pressing iron, gas cookers, electric cookers and washing machines out of your children’s reach.
Whether it is switched off or not, keep them out of reach. When not in use, unplug and cover them.
Also, do not let your child play with gas knobs, or the seat on cooking stoves.
When they come of age, teach them how and when to use home appliances safely and effectively.
- KEEP HOT AND SHARP OBJECTS FROM REACH
Children can’t help but try new things.
Sometimes, they wouldn’t know how dangerous a sharp object can be until they get hurt. However, don’t wait for them to get hurt before keeping them out of their reach.
Hot objects like pressing iron should also be kept out of reach while cutlery should also be avoided until they can handle it themselves. Store them in shelves and drawer, as well as matchboxes.
More so, they shouldn’t be allowed to play with hot pot or spoon because they may mistake them for toys.
- WIRES AND CABLES
Remove all wires or cable crossing any path to avoid tripping.
At the end of every day, remove all toys or play instruments from the floor so that family members can use the bathroom freely at night without tripping on them – and to avoid injury or hazard.
- FIRST AID
As much as having a first aid box is important at home, It shouldn’t be kept lying around.
Remove it out of sight of your children to avoid them playing with its contents –because, in the course of playing, they can put dangerous liquids or tools in their mouth.
Not only that, medicines can be mistaken for sweets and swallowed in excess doses – which can cause serious health problems that can also lead to death.
- REMOVE ALL TINY OBJECTS
Items like plastic wraps, polythene bags, tapes, foil paper and waxed paper should be kept away. These items can cause suffocation in children.
Lastly, be on the look-out for tiny objects that your child could choke on.
Clear items like beads, coins, marble, paper clips and any other small object you can find on the floor, on low tables or drawers.
Also, be very watchful when you have visitors, no matter the safety pre-caution in your home, you never can tell what might be in their bags that your little one would find fascinating.
It could be lipstick, medication, mirror or other item people carry around with them, which could be dangerous to little children.
Always remember, nothing is cuter than your little one, so you cannot be too cautious especially when it comes to their safety.
