{"id":50,"date":"2025-01-13T16:16:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T16:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/?page_id=50"},"modified":"2025-01-13T16:16:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T16:16:27","slug":"childproof-your-home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/childproof-your-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Childproof Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By nature, small children love to explore their environment. But the same curiosity that\u00a0 helps\u00a0 them learn\u00a0 about\u00a0 the\u00a0 world can sometimes get\u00a0 them into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a parent, you need to do everything you can to ensure their safety while they grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following checklist, which goes room by room, can help you determine if your house is safe. Taking steps to child-proof your home can provide you with peace of mind while you enjoy your children. But remember, childproofing is an ongoing job. Be alert for anything you might have overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><small>Do a careful room-by-room home safety survey <em>every six<\/em><em> <\/em><em>months<\/em> !<\/small><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; BABY&#8217;S BEDROOM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure the cords from blinds or curtains are out of reach of the crib.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On the changing table, use a safety strap to keep your baby from falling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep all supplies out of reach, especially baby powder, so that the baby won\u2019t accidentally inhale it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the crib, mattress and bumper pads meet safety standards and the mattress fits snugly so there\u2019s no gap.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not use dry cleaning bags or trash bags as mattress covers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be especially careful when considering a second-hand crib; it may have been manufactured before safety standards were in place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Children under 33 ins. (84 cms.) tall should use a crib.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have installed a crib gym, it should be removed when the baby is five months old or is able to push up on hands and knees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examine teething rings and toys for small ends that extend into the back of the baby&#8217;s mouth and can cause choking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Falls are a common cause of serious injury. Keep furniture away from windows, and remember: screens keep bugs out, <em>but they don&#8217;t keep children in<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure night lights are away from drapes or bedspreads, where they could cause a fire.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><br>&nbsp; SIBLING\u2019S BEDROOM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If your baby has older brothers or sisters, you may have to make their rooms off-limits, especially if they&#8217;re full of toys with small parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any small object can be a choking hazard to a child who&#8217;s putting things in his\/her mouth. Your best bet may be to<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep the doors to a sibling&#8217;s room securely closed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Children under 6 years old should not use the top bunk of a bunk bed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Children should understand that bunk beds are not playthings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Crawl Around On Your Knees<br>See Your House The Way Your Child Does<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp; PARENT\u2019S BEDROOM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure loose change and other small items in drawers or on night stands are out of reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Move medicines or perfumes to a safe place to prevent poisoning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep any guns unloaded and locked out of reach. Don&#8217;t let your children see firearms, and never store a gun and its ammunition in the same place. A gun in the home is more likely to shoot a family member than an intruder.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp; BATHROOM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Store potentially dangerous items, even those you use on a daily basis, out of your child&#8217;s reach. This includes razors, cosmetics, after-shave, mouthwash and medicine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep all medicines in child-resistant containers. Medicines don\u2019t belong in the bathroom.(see <a href=\"file:\/\/levdesktopmsi\/WEB\/savealife\/SaveALife\/Safety\/bathroom.htm\">Bathroom Safety<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install safety latches on cabinet doors and drawers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep hair dryers and other electrical appliances unplugged and stored out of reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the water temperature of your water heater does not exceed 120 F. Consider installing anti-scald devices in your shower and bathtub that stop the water flow when the temperature exceeds 120 F.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always check the water temperature with your elbow before placing your child in the tub. (see <a href=\"file:\/\/levdesktopmsi\/WEB\/savealife\/SaveALife\/Safety\/burn.htm\">Burn Prevention<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put nonskid bath mats in the tub and floor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install toilet and lid locks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Never leave a child unattended in the tub. Drowning is the third leading cause of death of children<br>ages 0 to 4.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Before putting a child into the bath, take the phone off the hook, and put a\u00a0 &#8220;<strong>DO NOT DISTURB<\/strong>&#8221;\u00a0 sign on the front door.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;KITCHEN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When you&#8217;re preparing a meal, always turn the pot handles towards the back of the stove.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch what you heat. Never leave cooking unattended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Store sharp knives and other utensils out of reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Put latches on cabinets that contain cleaning liquids, bleach and dishwasher detergent.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install a safety latch on the oven door if your child is able to open it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep electrical cords out of reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t store vitamins on the kitchen table. Iron pills are the leading cause of poisoning deaths in children<br>under 6.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edge of tables and counters. Avoid placing them on a tablecloth, which a child can easily pull off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you&#8217;re holding something hot, don&#8217;t hold your child, too.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;LIVING ROOM AND SALON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Throughout your house, make sure that electrical outlets are covered with safety covers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appliances that produce heat, such as gas or kerosene space heaters, should be off-limits to young children. Use barriers to keep children away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put corner guards on any furniture that has sharp corners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put house plants out of reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure heavy items such as televisions are secure so they can&#8217;t tip over. Do the same with top-heavy furniture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check under the couch and behind the cushions for any small toys belonging to older children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep drapery cords out of reach.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;STORAGE AREAS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Store paints, cleaners and chemicals in cabinets that can&#8217;t be opened or reached by children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep hazardous household products in their original containers with their child-resistant caps secured. Make sure labels are readable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep children away from tools.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;MISCELLANEOUS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Post the Poison Control Center number by the telephone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep a bottle of syrup of ipecac (used to induce vomiting in some cases of accidental poisoning) on the top shelf of the medicine chest ( used only on poison-control instructions ).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always strap children into highchairs and strollers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t let children play alone on balconies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unguarded windows that open more than 10 cms. (4 ins.) pose a danger to toddlers. Secure them with locks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep matches and lighters out of teach of children. Teach children that these items are tools for adults,<br>not toys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t assume kids will learn fire safety at school. It\u2019s really a parent&#8217;s responsibility to make sure kids are safe from fire. Set a good example with how you cook and heat your home and how you dispose of smoking materials and matches if you are a smoker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have smoke detectors present on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. Check batteries monthly; change them bi-annually, each time you change your clocks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Nothing can replace parental supervision<\/em> of infants and toddlers. But for those times when you need to answer the phone or take a quick shower, have a playpen handy. And teach your children about safety. Children who learn about safety grow up knowing that they can make good safety decisions for themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Draw up a home escape plan and practice it twice a year. Knowing what to do when smoke detectors go off is as important as having them! Children are eager to learn, but in the absence of information, they can make a tragically wrong decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Before Grandchildren Visit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When your young grandchildren visit, you&#8217;ll want to be prepared with hugs, cookies, books and games. To make sure their visit is a safe one, check this list before they arrive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are all your medicines safely out of reach, including those in your purse?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are matches and lighters put away?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have you picked up loose change and other small items that children could choke on?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have you put away the bowl of small hard candies?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you&#8217;re cooking, are the pot handles turned inward?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t offer peanuts, whole grapes, cut up hot dogs, or raw carrots. These foods can cause a small child<br>to choke.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are cleaning supplies put away?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is your old crib unsafe? The slats should be no more than 5 cms (2 ins.) apart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is your water heater temperature turned down to 12O F?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the bathroom, have you put away electrical appliances, like electric shavers or hair dryers?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grandchild-proofing your surroundings helps ensure the safety of your grandchildren when they visit. It can also ease your concerns, so that you can enjoy your time together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>According to the U. S. National Safety Council, fires and burns, suffocation, drowning and falls are the leading causes of child fatalities in the home.<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><u><em>Nothing<\/em><\/u> Substitutes SUPERVISION !<\/strong><br><br>Boruch Rofeh Cholim 1999<br>Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material for non-commercial purposes as long as credit line is included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By nature, small children love to explore their environment. But the same curiosity that\u00a0 helps\u00a0 them learn\u00a0 about\u00a0 the\u00a0 world can sometimes get\u00a0 them into trouble. As a parent, you need to do everything you can to ensure their safety while they grow. The following checklist, which goes room by room, can help you determine&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-50","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/author\/levseltzer\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51,"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions\/51"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/savealife.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}