Is your child sitting upright by themselves? If so, it's time to start thinking about your home differently. The baby will soon be on the move, first crawling and then walking! So, about.com offers some tips on things to look for when child proofing.
- Stoves, Ovens, and Appliances. Toddlers hands are just at the right height to reach the knobs on the stove, hot burners, and pot handles. Ovens can be opened and crawled into, on or off. The same with dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers. Solution, Install locking latch handles on all appliances that open and close. Install knob covers to prevent burns, and always turn pot handles away from the edge of the stove.
- Cabinets and Drawers. These places contain dangerous objects and items that children can get into such as chemicals, glassware, knives, medications, etc. Solution, You can install latches on the inside of these areas. If you have irregular cabinets that can't be childproofed, make sure that cabinet has only child-safe items such as Tupperware and plastic containers. I did this on purpose for my little one. Because he was always trying to get into the cabinet, I stocked one full of things he could play with safely. It kept us both happy!
- Plants. Many plants are poisonous, and can cause illness. Some materials used to pot plants pose choking hazards. Solution, Be aware of the type of plants you keep. Don't use rocks or marbles in your pots. The National Capital Poison Center has a list of plants to avoid.
You can also visit safety1st.com for a list of child proofing products for your home. More to come.
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