Child safety is of paramount concern to parents. And while many fear outside threats like predators, traffic, and so on, there are just as many (if not more) dangers lurking in the home. While most new parents are hypersensitive to household hazards, they may begin to relax by the time their kids get to be a couple of years old. And yet, this is the time when parents should be most diligent about the safety of their kids. Toddlers are notorious for exploring their natural curiosity in ways that could pose a safety risk (climbing, putting objects in their mouths, etc.) and they will find a whole new set of tempting dangers within the home. So if 2012 will see your infant starting to crawl, walk, and climb, here are a few safety concerns you should consider addressing.
The most prominent hazard that most kids face concerns their penchant for climbing. When babies get to the stage where they are ready to start trying to stand and walk, they will use any object in the environment to pull themselves up. This generally means furniture. And if they grab items that are unstable, it could result in objects falling on top of them; either the tables and chairs they’re using for leverage or the items that sit atop them (lamps, photo frames, or even large items like the TV or other electronics). So you need to make sure that these items are sturdy enough to support them or that they are anchored to the wall so that they don’t tip over on top of your child.
In addition, kids will want to reach interesting items that are above their heads (and the reach of their hands), which means they will actually start to climb up. A fall from the couch may not be so bad, but falling off a high shelf could cause serious damage to a small child. So think about removing furnishings that kids could potentially see as their equivalent of Mount Everest, or simply find ways to block them off so that your curious children can’t climb them.
Of course, there are plenty of other threats to concern you, as well. Choking and suffocation hazards are a biggie even before kids get mobile, and large items (like fluffy toys or blankets) could be just as dangerous as small knickknacks. Plastic bags are another concern for parents. The best you can do here is to try to remove these items from the home wherever you can and remain diligent about watching your children to see what they’re putting in their mouths.
You’ll also want to keep hazardous chemicals and other possible toxins out of the reach of kids, from cleaning solvents to prescription medication to toiletries and even alcohol. These should be kept in high, locked cabinets (even when they grow to be teenagers you might want to keep these items locked up!). You should examine the plants in your home to make sure that a child caught chewing on them won’t require a trip to the emergency room.
And don’t forget about home security. Having an alarm system in place will not only lower your insurance premiums, it will warn you in case of intruders. However, it won’t stop your kids from tinkering with the weapons inside your home, so if you insist on keeping a firearm for protection, make sure that it is locked up at all times and that it is stored unloaded, just in case.
Evan Fischer is a freelance writer for Home Security and a part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.
Related Post
Keep Kids Safe At Home Celebrity Golf Scramble benefiting
Keep Kids Safe At Home Celebrity Golf Scramble. The 3rd Annual Keep Kids Safe Home Celebrity Golf Scramble place April 26, 2012, National Child
Keeping Kids Safe - Our Instructors
HOME ABOUT US EVENTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS NEWS I’ agree Keeping Kids Safe Copyright © 2012 Keeping Kids Safe Website Design Tebo Design
Keeping Kids Safe Home Page
Keeping Kids Safe Project Home. Thank visiting Keeping Kids Safe Project,
Recent News | Keeping Children Safe
Home; News; Resources; Training; Membership; About; Contact 7th February 2012 Join Keeping Children Safe ensure
Leave your comment on This Keeping Kids Safe in the Home in 2012 post: