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As an Omail subscriber, you will receive several benefits, including:
Omail Exclusive Coupons like free shipping and 10% off
Site-wide Promotion Notifications including $1 shipping
Personalized Product Recommendations
by Staff Writer
As you prepare for the arrival of your new baby, prepare your home with the necessary child safety precautions. One of the most important things you can do is to make your home a safe place for your baby. According to the Home Safety Council, babies and toddlers are most at risk of accidental at-home injuries, which kill more than 2,000 American children each year and hurt at least three million others. Baby-proofing your home early on will save you time and energy when you are busy caring for the new baby. The newborn you bring home from the hospital will be crawling and walking before you know it, so plan ahead for child safety. The following information offers step by step instructions on baby-proofing your home.
Use cabinet locks and doors handle covers. Lock any cabinets, drawers or closets that contain hazardous items using cabinet locks or door handle covers. Hazards include poisons, sharp items, alcohol, cleaners, vitamins, medications, paint, flammable items, small items that can cause choking and any other item that could hurt a baby if eaten or touched.
Put away hazardous items. Move breakable items, houseplants and choking hazards out of your baby's reach, making sure to consider the height of a typical toddler. Know the names of your houseplants in case your baby ingests one, as some are poisonous.
Cover power outlets. Cover all outlets with child-safe outlet covers. Buy child-safe power strips for areas where you need extra outlets.
Attach furniture straps. Secure large pieces of furniture to the wall with a furniture strap to ensure that they do not fall on top of a baby who is pulling up on them. Avoid placing heavy items on top of shelves or tables that baby might be able to wiggle.
Get all cords out of reach. Shorten cords of mini blinds, curtains and shades to avoid a strangulation risk. Wrap up electrical cords and place them out of your baby's reach.
Install gates. Install hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of any staircases in your home. If a door protects the staircase, install a safety latch or lock so that your toddler cannot open the door and fall down the stairs.
Use window guards. Invest in screen barriers for dangerous areas like fireplaces or radiators. Window guards will prevent your baby from falling out of the window if he pushes on the screen. Install sliding-window locks on any sliding windows or doors in your home.
Consider placing a lock on the door to one room, such as your home office, where items that are unsafe for a baby can be stored.
To ensure that you have covered everything within reach, get down on your baby's level and survey each room of your home.
Use the toilet-paper-tube test to check for choking hazards in the toy box and other areas. If an item can fit into a toilet-paper tube, it is small enough to be a choking hazard.
Do not put pillows, soft bedding, heating pads or stuffed animals in your baby's crib; all pose a suffocation risk.
Avoid purchasing secondhand safety equipment. Often, these products are no longer functional or safe. If you must purchase these items used, check recall lists before using them.
