Did you know that approximately 217,000 toy related injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year?  About 45% of those are to the head or face.
 

The following baby proofing hints were put together  to be as thorough as possible.   Please remember, however, that they are just hints and suggestions, and will not cover all of the child safety issues in and around your home.  You should also consider child proofing to be a continuous process.  As your child grows,  or as you have additional children, your child proofing needs will surely change.   Of course, we always encourage you to contact our professionals at Crumb Crunchers  for a complete in home safety evaluation.

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Child Safety Basics
No Cost “Baby Proofing”
Child Proofing For Your Second Or Third Baby

Child Safety Basics

1. Latch all lower cabinets and drawers in the kitchen, all bathrooms, laundry room and wet bar.
2. Put a toilet lid lock on all toilets. (A small toddler can drown in less than 1/2 inch of water)
3. Replace all doorstops with a one piece doorstop.  (Small rubber tips on standard door stops can be loosened by your toddler and put in their mouth causing choking, this is the  #1 choking hazard in the home)
4. Install door locks on doors that lead to areas not intended for children.
5. Use self closing protective electrical outlet covers to help assure that parents will not forget to replace the cover after each use.
6. Install soft cushions to furniture edges and corners.
7. Place smoke detectors in the halls and bedrooms on all floors.  Ensure fire guards protect open fires and/or gas fires.
8. Make sure windows can not be opened more than 4" by using window wedges or locks and/or are blocked with Window Guards.

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No Cost “Must Do’s”

1. Never leave any child unattended in the bath.  An excellent rule of thumb is to always have one hand on the child while bathing.
2. Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table.  Children learn in an instant how to roll over. They can fall off while you turn away for a second looking for a diaper.
3. All Closets should be free of dry cleaning bags.  Children can suffocate in these plastic bags.
4. Never hang mirrors or picture frames above a child's bed; an earthquake can knock them off onto your sleeping child.  Keep children away from glass doors.
5. Turn your hot water heater to 120 degrees. A baby's skin is more sensitive than an adult’s. What is warm to us can scald a small infant.  Always check water temperature before you put your child in the bath.
6. As a parent, get down on your hands and knees and look around your home, and see what your child sees through his/her eyes.
7. Keep all hazardous items locked away, preferably in a high cabinet.
8. Do not overfilled playpens and cribs.  Keep toys to a minimum. Do not use pillows or thick blankets with young infants.
9. Watch out for loose cables and electrical cords; tie cords up out of reach or bundle together to remove all slack.
10. When cooking, turn pot handles away from edge of counter. Try to use the back burners whenever possible.
11. Make sure all medication is in child-resistant containers.  Make sure cleaners, cosmetics, and other poisonous substances are correctly labeled with name and ingredients so that if your baby ingests the item you can give accurate information to a poison control center or emergency medical team.
12. Place a "Tot Spotter" sticker on your child's window so it can be identified in case of a fire or other emergency.
13. Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and lit candles out of children's reach.
14. If firearms are stored in the house, keep them locked, unloaded and stored out of reach.  You may even consider keeping the firearm and the ammunition in separate locations.

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Child Proofing For Your Second Or Third Baby

1. Evaluate any equipment you intend to reuse.  Remember, used clips, straps, safety catches and fixtures may not be in good working order anymore.  If in doubt, buy new equipment.
2. An older child's toys are often a danger to a younger one - be sure to evaluate and keep unsafe toys away from the baby or younger children.
3. New and better child safety products may be available. Look at what is available now, and compare them to what you currently have. You may need to update a few items.
4. Potty training is a real hazard. The older child who is using the toilet may not necessarily put the lid down.  Install a lid lock and train the older child to use the lock.
5. Get the older child involved. Train siblings to understand the dangers of leaving toys and other items in places the new toddler can get a hold of them.  Make them aware that small objects can cause choking, and that they should never give the new baby anything without your permission.  They should also be aware to never put anything near a baby's mouth.
6. Consider installing an alarm to all exterior doors in order to alert you when doors are opened.  Older children can come in and out of doors and forget to close them properly, leaving the potential for smaller children to get out.

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