Most of the time, a child’s parents and loved ones will worry about their safety outside the house, kidnappers, reckless drivers and other dangers can potentially harm them. However, parents often neglect the fact that within the home itself, there are many threats to a child’s safety and well-being.

Many a times we have read new reports of children finding their way to the balconies of high rise apartments and falling to their deaths, or children who play with fire and start catastrophes. In essence, it is therefore the parents’ or guardian’s duty to ensure the home is safe for children.

Here are some ways that dangerous incidences can be avoided:


Living Room
• Get some electrical socket covers and apply them on sockets that are not being used

• Avoid having slippery mats on the floor as children can slip and fall while running

• Use corner edge bumpers made of soft plastic or rubber on the edge of tables, especially glass tables to avoid injury.

• Replace frayed or exposed wiring to ensure your child doesn’t get electrocuted

• Don’t put chairs or tables under windows so that children don’t climb on them and fall out.



Kitchen
• Install childproof locks on cabinets or drawers that contain knives, cleaning chemicals and medication.

• When cooking, use the back burners of a stove and turn the handles to face the inside of the stove so that children can’t reach them

• Have a specific cabinet that is high up to store medicines or cleaning products like bleach.

• Don’t store any glassware or breakables within reach of children. Store them high up in the upper cabinets.

• Try not to keep any items near the edge of the counters. Keep them deeper within and possibly in plastic containers that don’t open easily.



Bathroom
• Remember that children, especially toddlers can fall into toilet bowls and it’s possible for them to drown in a few inches of water. Therefore, keep your bathroom locked at all. Toddlers should only be allowed in under adult supervision.

• Keep shampoo, soap and other cleaning items on a high shelf that children cannot reach



Miscellaneous
• If you have steps or staircases in your house, install safety gates that can be locked to prevent toddlers from falling down these steps

• The door to the balcony should always be locked, even though you are at home. The only time you should let your toddler go onto the balcony is when you have a firm grip on him or her.

We hope that these simple suggestions can help make you and your child’s life safer and worry free. The easiest way to know what to do in your home is to get on your hands and knees and pretend to be your child and think where you might want to explore and poke around first, then try to make that area safe. This should be your first and primary guide.


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