Is Your Home Childproof?

If you have toddlers or small children in your home, one of the must-dos on your agenda must be their protection from accidentally hurting themselves over gadgets and furniture. And it is not so difficult as you think it is. For, these days, there are a number of different products available that can help make your home more childproof.

All it takes are a few precautions to create a safer environment for children to grow up in. Just remember one thing - when purchasing any child-safety product, make sure it has the relevant safety certification, and be sure to follow any instructions provided by manufacturer. Never use second-hand safety equipment unless you are certain of its history.

Safety guards and gadgets

The majority of safety fittings are quick and easy to fit - most can be adapted to fit a particular design. For example, toilet lid locks will generally fill the majority of toilets, but it is advisable to check the dimensions first.

It is very much an individual decision in terms of what are essential and what are non-essential items. However, there are various items, such as stair-gates and fireguards, that the majority of parents consider a necessity.

Here are a few items easily available in the market...

Cooker and hob guard

Helps prevent a child getting too near to the cooker surfaces.

A corner protector

This is clipped on to a table corner to make it less sharp. It can also be used on other sharp corners around the home.

Glass-safety film

Applied over glass, it prevents shards flying of the window or table top breaks or shatters.

Door-slam stopper

Prevents a door slamming, reducing the risk of fingers being caught in the door.

An electrical outlet cover

Clips over sockets to prevent children pushing their fingers or objects into pinholes.

Exterior childproofing

Make sure that walls and fences are regularly maintained to avoid children leaving the boundaries of your home. Remove any rough wood, or flaky paint (especially if it is lead-based paint), and cover ponds and pools to prevent children from falling in. Unstable bricks and blocks should be fixed or removed, and make sure that garden steps are in good condition. Any play areas are best laid with soft coverings such as grass or bark chippings.