Home Safety: 8 Areas of Risk
Home is where your life is. When you have children in the home, you want it to be a safe space for them to grow and explore. As early as the 4 month well-child checkup I encourage the parents of my patients to start looking for ways to make their home more safe. “A rolling baby is a mobile baby” and mobility enables children to reach objects or get to places in the house that you wouldn’t expect.
Child-proofing your home takes many forms and includes protection from chemicals and medications, furniture precautions, and choking hazards.
Smoke detectors
Hopefully working smoke detectors are something you had in your home before you brought your baby home, but take the time now to check the smoke detectors in your house. Make sure batteries are routinely changed. As your children become older, make an emergency plan with them for how to get out of the house in case of a fire. Decide on a location at which to meet as a group somewhere that is a safe distance away from your home.
Chemical exposures
Our homes have chemicals, whether they are for cleaning, maintaining appliances or vehicles, or outdoor/lawn care. Many of these chemicals are brightly colored and attract the attention of children who think they will taste good. From the time your child is able to roll and crawl, make sure you have chemicals and cleaning supplies placed up high above his/her reach, or in a locked cabinet. Check your garage as well, and make sure chemicals for lawn and garden, vehicle maintenance, or pool care are not accessible by your child. Laundry detergent pods are a colorful temptation for young children and can be very dangerous if ingested.
Electrical safety
Use safety plugs in all unused outlets to prevent children from sticking fingers or toys into them. If your child consistently tries to remove the plugs, try blocking the outlet with furniture. Hide electrical cords as much as possible.
Furniture
Check large pieces of furniture for stability. Children love to climb, and bookcases or dressers can tip over and fall on a climbing child, causing serious injury. Attach them to the wall with safety brackets. Many pieces of furniture have sharp edges that children can fall onto, especially when they are learning to walk. These should be covered with bumpers or edge protectors.
Choking hazards
Infants and toddlers put EVERYTHING in their mouths. Check your home daily for small objects that may be in reach, such as coins, beads, nuts, screws. This is particularly important if there are older children who have toys with small pieces. If you have an infant, get down on your hands and knees and crawl around your house to see it on your baby’s level and move things that you don’t want in his or her mouth. Do not leave plastic bags around the house where your child can reach them, as these can cause suffocation.
Burns
Check your heat sources. Fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, wood stoves, and kerosene heaters should have a screen to prevent access. Check the temperature of your hot water heater. Make sure pot handles do not extend out from the stove while cooking. Do not allow children to use the microwave by themselves.
Firearms
If possible, do not store firearms in your home. If you do have them, keep them unloaded and locked away where your child cannot reach them.
Windows
Keep windows locked. Do not place chairs or tables near windows that are able to be opened, especially on upper floors of the home or in multi-story buildings. Attach cords for window blinds to floor mounts or wrap them around wall brackets to keep them out of reach. Children can get wrapped up in cords and strangle.
Do all that you can to ensure your home is a safe environment for your child.
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