7 things you should consider to protect your child

baby

It can seem like a daunting task to keep your child safe because once they are on the move, there’s no stopping their curiosity.

However, you as a parent or child care professional can take steps towards reducing the risks of injury or worse. When it comes to a small child, if there is something that they are not supposed to do, they will do it. Eliminating the preventable problems gives you peace of mind since you know your child is better off.

However, this guide isn’t intended to shock you, rather inform you of the hidden dangers in and around your home, and give you simple solutions to them. Below are some ideas and products to ensure your child is in a cocoon of safety. Let’s get started!

1. Baby Fence

Soon enough, usually around seven months old, your little one will become an explorer who will try to get to every corner of the house. Understandably you’d want to limit their range, like in cases where you have a pool around. Their tiny fingers love to touch everything, and are they are aggregated towards putting anything that can fit in their mouths. When the inevitable time comes, then a baby fence might come to your rescue.

A baby fence or baby gate is an excellent way of controlling your baby’s movement. In turn, this enhances their safety because they won’t stroll to unwanted places. Some barriers are suited to some situations much better than others are.

Some offer a solution to set on your door, hallway, stairway, or even to restrict pets, while others are constructed to be versatile. When choosing a baby fence, ensure that it has an adequate height to deter the toddler from climbing over. The slats need to be vertical because horizontal slats would only encourage the kid to climb up. Additionally, the slats should also be adequately spaced for the baby’s hand to pass through without risk. Moreover, you can check out babygadgetlab for baby fences.

2. Electrical safety

Take steps to ensure your child doesn’t have an opportunity to play around with electrical outlets. Take stock of your electrical landscape, and see where the danger might lie when your baby crawls around a designated room. Ensure to cover, block off, or lock any exposed outlets since your curious bundle of joy might touch or stick something in it.

Also, manage cables by keeping wires bundled, controlled, and hidden if you can, to reduce against wire entanglement. You can use wraps, sleeves, covers, and cable ties to organize wires. Unplug electrical appliances when not in use. Lastly, continuously educate and emphasize to your child on matters of electricity. If you are consistent enough, they will pick up what not to do, and hopefully, stay away from outlets and loose wires.

3. Install safety latches and locks

No drawer, cabinet, window, door, or toilet is safe from your little ones prying hands. In this case, you can keep them out of trouble by installing locks, and keep your baby from getting hurt. Many cabinets contain items like cleaning products and medicines, which your baby shouldn’t get ahold of. Every year, many children go to the emergency room because of ingesting harmful substances. You can rest easier when you know your little explorer is hard at work, and locks are in full effect.

Furthermore, babies love to slam cabinet doors in and out with glee on their faces. Not only will the commotion and noise annoy you, but your baby might also end up banging their fingers, which is even worse. Once your baby reaches new heights and learns to walk, you will have less need of having to lock everything up.

4. Get a smoke alarm

Studies show that nearly 60 percent of all child injuries are caused by thermal burns caused by fire and heat. This statistic is even more reason why you should get a smoke alarm in your house, as a new parent. These devices are essential to have on every level of your home, particularly in the kitchen. With them functioning, you will have a better chance of getting everyone out of the house safely, in case of fire. You might already have smoke detectors installed in various rooms in your home, but it’s important to make sure that they are working every month. Sometimes many people forget to do this when all was required are batteries.

5. Use corner and edge bumpers

The dangers of corners might not be evident to you as an adult, but they quickly become apparent when your kid starts moving around the house with gusto. You suddenly see all the ways your child might get an ugly bruise or a head injury. Falling is a natural step as your kid edges towards walking on two feet. For this reason, install edge and corner bumpers to prevent injuries from falls caused by sharp edges in furniture and walls. The corner guards soften the hard and pointy spots your baby will likely run into.

6. Anchor your furniture and appliances

Furniture and appliances like TVs can easily tip over and fall on your child if it’s not anchored properly. Children love to climb and pull themselves up using anything they can grip onto. Ensure to keep your bookcases, dressers, ranges, and anything near that size away from your child’s grasp. Anchor product to the floor or securely attach them to a wall, consequently enhancing safety.

7. Poison, suffocation and choking safety for kids

You can take significant steps towards eliminating the trauma of your child picking and gobbling up everything they come across. Always ensure that your child is not exposed to unsafe environments, whether awake or asleep. Regularly scan the environment for loose items that might be a choking hazard.

Make sure the baby’s sleep surface meets the necessary safety standards, like a crib lacking drop-side rails. Make sure your baby isn’t caught up between the side rails and the mattress, which can lead to suffocation. Choking is a considerable risk in infants, who must be put to sleep on their backs.

They can sleep in a different position only under special circumstances, advised by a pediatrician. Keep babies away from smokers, and lastly, always be present when your infant is eating.