While parents worry endlessly about how to protect their children from sickness, abduction and violence, many overlook one of the biggest threats to their children’s safety and well-being – a dangerous home

Infants don’t remain infants for long. Eventually, they become curious little crawlers, cruisers, walkers and runners! This will render your once ‘safe’ home hazardous, with accidents waiting to happen. Yes, the importance of child-proofing your home couldn’t be over-emphasized. Year after year, countless numbers of little ones are injured by home-related accidents which could have been easily prevented by some simple baby-proofing measures.

What does a crawling baby see?

Crawling babies see so much more of what’s on the floor than us, for they’re much closer to it! The only way to really get an idea of what the view is like and all the possible ‘booby traps’ easily accessible by a crawling baby is to get on all four yourself and take a commando crawl tour around the house, or where your baby crawls about.

That way, you won’t miss out anything that might risk your baby’s safety, like an overlooked or uncovered powerpoint, loose wiring, pest poisons, hidden debri, dust bunnies, dangerous knick-knacks and other object on the ground, for they may have been well-concealed from your view from way ‘up’ there!

Furniture safety

Little ones keep ending up at the emergency rooms of hospitals due to serious injuries caused by falling furniture and appliances right in their own home! Yes, big, heavy pieces of furniture like bookcases, dressers and cupboards can pose big dangers! Secure such furniture by bolting them to a wall. Many such furniture items are equipped with safety features for better security.

Big, heavy appliances such as a television set sitting precariously at the end of furniture have been known to topple over and cause serious injuries to little children, some even resulting in death. Items such as these should be secured into position.

To prevent tall furniture from becoming top-heavy, place heavier items at the bottom shelves or drawers. This will lessen the possibility of it falling over at a tug or pull.

Watch those corners!

Sharp and hard furniture corners are another common hazard, especially those found on dining and coffee tables. Cover these with ready-made fix-on bumpers to soften the impact if your child should run into them or fall against them.

Household poisons

It’s almost impossible to be living in a 100% organic environment, though it would be wonderful! The cleaner your house is, the more likely that there’s an arsenal of poisonous products somewhere in your house, such as soap powders, bleaches, window cleaners, floor washes, bug sprays, etc. These have to well out of your little one’s reach.

Keep medications and other potential poisons also out of the way or locked up. If you have houseplants, make sure that they are not poisonous in nature.

Household water hazards

Babies and toddlers drowning in their own homes are not something unheard of, although it’s simply heart-wrenching to think that every single one of those incidents could have been avoided with some simple precautionary steps. It doesn’t take more than a few inches of water to cause a baby or toddler to drown and parents and/or caregivers should never take water safety for granted! Always empty bath tubs right after use. If you are cleaning or mopping by using a bucket of water, empty the bucket as soon as you are done.

Install a child-safe latch to bathroom doors to prevent your little one from venturing there unsupervised. These are easily available at any DIY shops all over the country.

Safety measures with windows

• Windows, especially low ones, shouldn’t open to more than 4 inches. Window stops are available at hardware shops and these can prevent windows from opening too much.
• Never underestimate a curious little child. Always place furniture away from windows to prevent children from climbing up and trying to open them.
• Open double-hung windows from the top or fit them with locks to prevent small children from opening them.