Childproofing Your Home
Each year approximately 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards and incidents in the home. Many of these incidents could be prevented. There are a lot of child safety devices on the market. Common sense also plays an important part in child protection. Also, please remember, there is no device that is completely childproof.
Before my grandson was born, my daughter and her husband were planning all the things that needed to be done to the house in order to childproof it. In my daughter's situation, childproofing was extremely important because she is visually impaired. Without vision, it is much harder to "keep your eye" on the child.
Next best, keep your "ears on the child."
My daughter made sure she purchased a really good baby monitor. She could hear the baby from her bedroom or from the kitchen or the family room. Her ears were always on alert. Thankfully, she tookall these measurements.
My son-in-law thought it was a little much when my daughter insisted that every piece of furniture in the baby's room be bolted to the wall. Also, in other rooms where the baby would be going, large pieces of furniture were bolted to the walls.
On one occasion, she heard a little whimper coming from the baby monitor. Mothers get to know the sounds of their babies and have a second sense about their well being. She was instantly in his room. This child was born with a "climbing gear." He had managed to climb from his crib onto a small chest and from that he had climbed on top of a six foot book/toy case. Fortunately, it was bolted to the wall. She went into his room and reached up and took a very scarred little boy of the top of the bookshelf. He was less than a year old. There was a toy on the top of the book shelf and he decided to go after it.
Because of her lack of vision, my daughter put bells on her son's little shoes. Everyone thought it was cute, but it was her way of knowing his every movement.
On one occasion, my daughter was in a room full of sighted people, and she heard the little bells. She knew from the sound that these little bells were heading for the front door of the building. No one saw the little fellow heading for the door, but she heard him. Someone had negligently left the front door open and the little nature lover was heading down the steps to explore. Daddy was sent to the rescue.
Along with a lot of common sense, Some safety devices that can help prevent injuries to young children are as follows:
A Great Baby Monitor!!! Enough said about that.
Safety Latches:
Place safety locks on cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas. This can help prevent injuries as well as poisonings. Medication, household cleaners, knives, and sharp objects should be out of reach of children and locked away with safety latches.
Safety latches and locks should be sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children and should be checked often.
Safety Gates:
Use to keep children away from dangerous areas and to help prevent falls. Safety gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms where they should not enter. Gates that screw to the wall are more secure than pressure gates and should be used at the top of the stairs.
Make sure the gates cannot be dislodged easily by children, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Be careful of older gates. A child could get its neck or head caught in the older gates with the large V designs.
Door Knob Covers:
Helps prevent children from entering rooms and other areas where they should not go. Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency.
Door Locks:
Definitely should be used to deny access to swimming pools and they should be placed high out of reach of young children. In addition to fences, door locks should be used to keep children away from the pool. In addition, I would advocate setting the security alarm so that it makes a noise every time a door is opened. Little people can slip away so fast.
Anti-Scald Devices:
This probably should be installed by a plumber on shower heads and faucets so that the water temperature will be regulated to a maximum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns. Also, set water heater temperature at 120 degrees to prevent burns from hot water.
Smoke Detectors:
Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure they're working.
Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates:
Use to help prevent electrocution. Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children. Make sure the covers are large enough that children cannot choke on them.
MiniBlind Cords:
Cut Window Blind Cords and use Safety Tassels and Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops. On older miniblinds, the cord loop should be cut and buckles removed. Be sure older blinds and drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold cords tight. If you are shopping for new miniblinds, make sure to ask for safety features to prevent strangulation.
Cordless Phones:
A Cordless Phone gives you the freedom to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas.
Security System:
My security system is set so that it beeps when a door is opened. When my grandson visits, the system is immediately turned on when he goes to bed because Grandma wants to know if he opens a window or door during the night.
Grandma also knows when he decides to go outside to explore. (First of all, he has to ask before going outside, but just in case.....) You better believe, Grandma is right there exploring with him! We check out flowers, bumble bees, worms, frogs, lizards and all those exciting things that little boys like.
Safety for children goes beyond gadgets and systems! 
For More Information, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423
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