If you have cords on your window blinds, shades or curtains, cut them off or use cord shorteners, safety tassels, or wind-ups to keep them out of reach. [2] X Expert Source Jami YaegerParenting Specialist Expert Interview. 29 September 2020. Since November 2000, all window blinds sold in the United States are required to come with attachments on the pull cords to prevent a loop from forming between the slats if a child pulls on them. If you purchased window blinds were bought before this date, you should call (800) 506-4636 to order a free retrofit kit.
Check regularly to make sure that the guards and netting are still secure. You can find both window guards and safety netting at most retail hardware stores.
If you have a window seat, or a window that reaches low to the ground, it’s particularly important that you install a window guard to prevent accidents. For casement windows, you should remove the crank and put it somewhere you can find it, but your child can’t.
If you have a lot of wires in your child’s room, it’s a good idea to conceal them in a wire guard when you’re childproofing the room. Reserve the plastic outlet covers for rarely used outlets, or outlets that are typically out-of-reach.
A “door monkey” will allow a door to open a few inches, but will prevent a child from leaving. Make sure your cabinets won’t slam on tiny fingers by installing pinch guards. These are U-shaped pieces of foam that prevent a door from closing.
As you close the door, hold the washcloth between the door and the door frame on the same side as the door handle. You’ll be able to close the door, and the washcloth will stay in place. The extra pressure against the door will prevent a child from opening the door. When you need to get in or out, pull the washcloth tight with one hand, and turn the knob with the other. You should be able to open the door without too much effort.
When the child tries to turn the doorknob, the only thing they’ll be able to grasp will be the cardboard. The cardboard will spin around the knob without turning the knob. This strategy won’t work on levered knobs.
It’s a good idea to check the batteries monthly and replace your smoke detectors when they expire. Smoke detectors usually last up to 10 years.
Carbon monoxide alarms can be purchased at most hardware stores. Change the batteries in your CO alarm at the same time you change the ones in your smoke detector. Some smoke detectors come equipped to alert you to both smoke and CO.
Avoid putting a space heater where a child or a pet could accidentally knock it over. Carefully read the product manual that comes with your space heater before using it. Unsafe use of any heater can cause hazardous conditions.
You can find strong nylon straps (such as Mommy’s Helper Tip-Resistant Furniture Safety Brackets) that anchor furniture to the walls. These are screwed into your wall studs, and attached to your furniture Brackets and braces can also be used to secure furniture in place to prevent it from falling.
Plastic coins also present choking hazards. Watch out for coin-sized game tokens that older siblings might accidentally leave in a younger child’s room. Young children can choke on smaller pieces of crayons, whether crushed underfoot or broken in two. To prevent children from accidentally getting crayons stuck in their throats, use only larger sized, chubby round crayons.
Anything that fits through the hole of a toilet paper roll can be considered a choking hazard. Any plastic bag, including dry cleaning bags, Ziplock bags, and grocery bags should be kept out of reach of a young child.
If you need to cover the toys to keep them out of your child’s visual attention, use a piece of cloth or a lightweight covering. Plastic lids are ideal for toy boxes, because they can be snapped into place. If a child accidentally gets access to the box, the lid won’t be heavy enough to cause injury.
Look for the Safety Certification Seal of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). This certification label should appear on your baby’s crib. The mattress should fit snugly, with no more than 2 adult fingers of space between the edge of the mattress and the slats of the crib. Make sure the crib doesn’t have any decorative cutouts in the headboard or footboard that a baby could get caught in.
Make sure the crib doesn’t have any missing or broken slats. Check to see that the sides can’t be released by a child inside the crib. If the child is tall enough to stand, make sure the crib’s mattress is kept at its lowest position to minimize risk of falling out of the crib.
If your baby needs certain items to fall asleep, take the items away once the baby is soundly asleep. Avoid using crib bumpers. A child can climb up on top of crib bumpers and fall out of the crib once they’re old enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep in warm sleepwear with feet instead of a blanket, to prevent risk of suffocation. You can also use a sleepsack (a wearable blanket) instead of a blanket.
When a baby begins to push up on their hands and knees, or by 5 months, you should remove the mobile altogether. Once a baby can reach the mobile with their fingers, it becomes a strangulation risk.
Make sure the crib isn’t located near a heating source, such as a vent or radiator. Make sure any décor that is placed above the crib is anchored securely to avoid having anything fall onto the baby’s head. A child spends a lot of unsupervised time in their crib, so extra attention to safety ahead of time is needed.
