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Preparing a home for the arrival of a new baby is a simple procedure that many people often overlook. With a small amount of time and money, you can be sure your child has a safe environment. Since not all dangerous substances are obvious, protect your children by following these
rules:
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When buying household products, read the label and use the least toxic ones. Not all household products are alike. Some use corrosive chemicals, while some use less dangerous materials.
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Lock up all harmful substances. Dangerous substances should not be just put up high on the refrigerator. Children can pull a chair over when you're not looking and get on top. You should keep all hazardous chemicals and substances in a closet or cabinet that has at
least a child proof latch, preferably a lock. You can shop for all types
of cabinet and drawer latches and locks
here. Some of the items you want to keep locked up are: pesticides, paint thinner, paint remover, cleaning products, medicines, cosmetics, prescription drugs, vitamins, and household plants.
For a list of poisonous plants and other items,
go here.
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Never trust child resistant containers. When left alone, even for a moment, a child can find some way to get open a bottle that is supposed to be child proof.
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Cover all electrical outlets. You can purchase several types of electrical covers at your home improvement
store or you can purchase them
on our site. These range from simple plastic inserts, to complete covers that go over the outlets.
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Lock up all small objects, crafts, and knick knacks.
Conduct a room by room search.
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Make a room by room inventory of all harmful items. Identify all hazardous items and remove them or lock them up.
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Keep all medicines, pesticides, and chemicals in their original containers. Unmarked containers can be mistaken for something they are not.
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Never refer to medicine as candy. Do not tell your children their medicine is good to eat. Children love to imitate. If they think medicine is good to eat, they will take your own medicine when you're not looking.
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Keep
child proof gates on hand. Use these gates to block areas where children shouldn't be, such as dangerous
stairwells and fireplaces.
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Cover hard surfaces and sharp corners. Place fireplace bumpers on the edge of the fireplace. Cover other hard surfaces and sharp corners with foam padding and bumpers (coffee tables, desks, etc.).
You can purchase fireplace bumpers and corner cushions online by
clicking
here.
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Post all emergency phone numbers near the phone. Keep a list of phone numbers with poison control centers, police, fire department, 911 and your family doctor.
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Keep a first aid kit, activated charcoal, and syrup of ipecac on hand. If a child ever ingests something that is poisonous, call the poison control center or your doctor. Depending on what was ingested, you might be told to use Ipecac to induce vomiting, or charcoal to
absorb the poison.
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By following these simple rules and routinely making a room by room search, you can feel comfortable your child is in a safe environment.
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