This may apply to every room in the house:
Install child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets
Place dangerous chemicals out of children's reach
Strings and ribbons - follow the six inch rule
Always use a safety belt on your baby when she/he is sitting in a
bouncy seat or swing
Shorten curtain and blind cords above children's reach
Move furniture away from windows
Install corner bumpers on furniture and sharp edges of counters
shelves, ledges and the fireplace
Place household-plants out of children's reach
Know the names of all plants in your house in case a child eats
one of them
Keep cigarettes, matches and lighters out of children's reach
Safeguard heating and gas systems against accidents by placing screens and barriers around fireplaces, radiators and space-heaters.
Install carbon-monoxide (CO) alarm/detectors outside bedrooms and enterance to furnace/water-heater area.
Install smoke/fire alarm/detectors outside each bedroom and every level of your home
Remove plastic end caps on doorstops or replace the stops with a one-piece design to prevent choking
Place plastic guards along the hinge side of frequently used interior doors to prevent the doors from pinching fingers
Install safety-proof gates on stairways, windows and fire-exits
Make a fire evacuation plan and practice fire escape routes at least twice a year
Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away
Secure unsteady furnishings from tipping over
Test homes built before 1978 for lead paint
Learn first-aid and CPR
Use a cordless telephone, as it is easier to carry around to with you to the room that you are attending your children
Place rubber or foam covers on door handles so if your children bump their heads on them
Hallways and staircases :
Install nigh-lights in electrical outlets to avoid dark areas
Remove loose rugs that slip on hardwood and tile floors
Install carpeting on stairways to protect falls
Children's rooms :
Position your child's crib away from all drapery, electrical cords, electric outlets, electric light switches and windows
Make sure the crib meets national government safety standards
Make sure the mattress fits snugly preferably the original mattress that came with the crib
Make sure the crib sheets fit snugly
If you use a crib bumper, make sure it's firm [ not fluffy ] and secured tightly with at least six ties
Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them
Place infants under one-year on their backs to sleep
Never use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small child or infant
Place night-lights at least three (3) feet away from the crib, bedding and draperies to prevent fire
Always use a safety belt on your infant when you have the child on a changing table, and never leave them unattended
Provide padding for falls
Check age labels for appropriate toys
Be vigilant about choking hazards
Use side railings for children just getting used to 'big-kids' beds
Bathrooms :
Never leave a young child alone in the bathroom
Install a lock-set [ door handle ] that has some device that can be used on the outside of the door for opening. If this is a pin or key device, keep it close by like hung on a nail in the
nearby linen closet or some other place nearby. Let every one in the home know it's where-abouts
To prevent poisoning, lock away all vitamins and medicines
Install toilet-lid lockstop prevent drowning
Lower the temperature on the hot water-heater's control
Always test the water first before bathing a child
Make sure the surface in bathtubs and showers are not slippery
Use electrical appliances carefully and put away out of children's reach after use
Install ground-fault (GFI) circuit interrupters on all electrical outlets in the bathroom and within 6 feet of all water appliances in the rest of the house
Kitchen :
Keep knives, cleaning supplies and plastic bags out of children's reach
Install child-proof locks on lower cabinet doors
To avoid fires and burns, never leave cooking food unattended
When cooking with pots and pans on the stove, turn the handles away from the front so that they do not overhang
If stove knobs and controls are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent children from turning them
Teach your children how to respond to fire
When electrical appliances are not in use, unplug from outlets
Replace any frayed cords and wires
Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove
Keep activated charcoal (helps absorb some poisons) and
syrup of ipecac (used to induce vomiting) on hand
Beware of foods that children can choke on
Out in the Yard :
Store tools, garden, and lawn-care equipment and supplies in a locked closet or shed
Do not use a power mower to cut the grass when young children are around
Do not allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of fertilizer or pesticide treatments
Know the types of trees on your property in the event children eat berries, leaves, or other plant life
If you have a swimming pool, install a fence ( complete with an automatic childproof gate) that separates the house from the pool
When you barbecue, never leave the children unattended
Store propane grills where the children cannot reach them
Other resources for child-proofing your home :
To find electrical outlet covers, cord shorteners, cabinet latches and tolet-lid locks, check with your local hardware store
For consumer-product and home-safety information, contact the
Canadian Consumer Product Safety Association
For details about child and home safety, contact the National Safe Kids Campaign (USA)
For information about child lead poisoning, read the 'Lead Hazard Information' which maybe obtained by contacting the US Department of Housing and Urban Development there maybe a similar Canadian department, and if so please advise e-mail me via the 'suggest link' and I wil post that information to this site For information about safe drinking water, contact the Ontario Ministry of the Environment
I hope this page is helpful in 'child-proofing your home' and if you have any additional suggestions, associations, or link pages please use this 'suggestion link' and I will up-load suitable material to this page. Hugh
