You may be prepared for parenthood, but is your home ready? According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, nearly 4.5 million children ages 14 and under are injured in the home each year.

Having young children mean child-proofing your home, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you throwing your style out the window.

Child safety expert Debra Holtzman says there are simple child-proofing steps to take to make your home safe for the kids, while still enjoying the things you love.

“Sometimes danger can come in beautiful packages. For example, many decorative plants ingested by children like Philodendron contain oxalates that cause extreme pain and inflammation,” says Debra.

And be careful of those sweet smelling candles. “Candles provide ambience and fragrance, but they can also be a serious fire hazard. Great alternatives like Febreze Scentstories provide true candle-like scents without an open flame.”

Watch out for ornamental trunks as well which must have child-proof locks. Trunks often have heavy lids, and young children may crawl inside and become trapped. If you use a storage chest, choose one without a lid.

Other child-proofing measures you may consider taking:

1) Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries. Child-proof latches and locks on cabinets and drawers are not a guarantee of protection, but they can make it more difficult for children to reach dangerous substances. Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away, out of reach; this packaging is not childproof.

2) Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas. Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more secure than "pressure gates."

3) Use door knob covers and door locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can help keep children away from places with hazards, including swimming pools.

4) Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can help prevent burns.

5) Use smoke detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are essential child-proof devices for protection against fire deaths and injuries.

6) Use child-proof window guards and safety netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Window guards and safety netting for balconies and decks can help prevent serious falls.

7) Use child-proof outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution.

8) Use child-proof door stops and door holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges.

Check these child-proof devices frequently to make sure they are secure and properly installed and maintained.

SOURCES: NEWSTREAM, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

 Other news