9 household items that can put your children in grave danger

We watch our kids like hawks when we go out to ensure their safety. But did you know your own home can house risks to your child's safety? Now before you get alarmed, remember that being aware of what these risks are is the most important step to preventing accidents. 

What can you read in this article? 

• Hazardous household products to watch out for
• Childproofing your home for toddlers
• Baby proofing house checklist

Let’s start with nine hazardous household products to watch out for. These items should be on your list when childproofing your home.

9 household items to watch out for when childproofing your home

1. Bathtubs

Whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, or even a really large aquarium, young children are especially at risk because they can drown in less than two inches (six cm) of water.

To prevent accidents, NEVER leave your baby unattended in a bathtub, even for a few seconds. If you have a pool, pond, or even an aquarium, ensure your child cannot fall into it.

2. Electrical Sockets

When childproofing your home, start covering all your electrical sockets just before your little one starts crawling and cruising. This is to prevent those curious little ones from sticking their tiny fingers in.

Make sure the covers are tight so that they cannot be pried open easily and double-check that you do not miss any of the lower sockets that are within reach.

3. Drawers

Some kids are born natural climbers. Remember a toddler's near-fatal accident when the drawer toppled over? Or the one where the child's twin brother managed to save his brother from under the fallen drawers?

When childproofing your home, always secure shelves and drawers to the wall so that they do not fall over and cause unwanted accidents.

The same goes for flat-screen TVs that should be securely attached to your wall.

4. Window blind cords

According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, 17,000 children under six years old suffered window blind-related injuries or death from 1990 to 2015. Most of the children were found entangled or strangled by the cords.

If you have blinds or curtains installed at home, be sure to knot the cords higher up so that your little ones cannot reach them.

5. Hot Kettle

The kitchen is probably the most dangerous place for any child to be left alone in. Kettles, knives, and washing detergents are easily found in kitchens, stoves, and in cabinets.

Be sure to have safety gates installed to deter your little ones from entering the kitchen, as well as safety locks on drawers and cabinets. Always make sure hot kettles and any other hot pans and dishes are kept out of reach.

If something is cooking on the fire, double-check that the handle is turned away from the front of your stove, so your little one cannot grab it.

6. Sharp Edges of Furniture

Falling and knocking into things are part and parcel of growing up. But you can reduce the chances of major injury by putting guards on the sharp corners of your furniture. They might look a little ugly for a while but hey, at least your bubs will be safe.

7. Medicine

Always, always keep all medications locked in a cabinet that is out of your children's reach. Swallowing medication that is not meant for children has been known to cause fatal accidents.

8. Glasses

Do not let your children use glasses or glass cups until they are ready. Glass can break very easily and young children can hurt themselves because they lack the capacity to understand the danger. So store away the glasses and give them plastic cups instead.

9. Small Objects

Any small things lying around the house are potential choking hazards especially during the phase when babies put everything into their mouths. Keep such items stored away and always make sure to cut fruits into bite-size portions to reduce the chance of choking.

Never underestimate the importance of childproofing your home. Your little one's safety should always be the top priority.

Moms and dads, it's not enough for just you to be aware of these safety tips. Please remember to share this information with your maids, nannies, or any other caregivers of your little ones.

READ MORE:

6 Important design features of a childproofed home

15 ways to baby-proof your home, according to pedias

Not paying attention to your child and other parenting mistakes you should avoid

Childproofing your home for toddlers

Now that you’re aware of the most hazardous products and materials in your house, what else can you do in childproofing your home for toddlers? Check out this babyproofing house checklist and start ticking off the list.

Kitchen

1. Keep knives, big and heavy pots, and other breakables out of reach
2. Before putting away poisonous substances in cabinets, put a warning sticker in each bottle and explain to your child what the sticker means. Even when these are locked away in cabinets, it is still beneficial for children to know that these are poisonous substances and should not be played with or ingested. Poisonous substances in the kitchen include cleaning, laundry, and insecticide products.
3. Install guards or protective covering on your gas tank, stove, and knobs so your child won’t get to play with them. More importantly, keep this out of reach or keep any step stool or chair away so they won’t have anything to stand on. 

Living Room

1. Keep your televisions on low and sturdy furniture. Make sure that these are intact and are not wobbly. If you have a flat-screen TV, better to mount this on the wall. 
2. Secure other heavy furniture on the wall with brackets and braces.
3. Add corner guards on furniture that may hurt your child.

Bedroom

1. If you are able to, install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors inside your rooms.
2. Check these once in a while for maintenance and repair.

Bathroom

1. Keep medications and cleaning supplies in locked cabinets or away from your child’s reach.
2. Turn off the heater when not in use. This way, there will be no incidents of scalding hot water drenching you or your child. Always check the water first before entering the bath.
3. Make sure that the mats inside your bathroom are non-slip. The same is true with your bathroom slippers if you have any

Garage

1.  Keep paint, tools, and other hazardous products away from children.
2. When you’re done with a project, make sure that you clean up and leave no trace of even the smallest particles that may pose risk to your child.

Entire House

1. Put socket covers over any unused outlets. If you don’t have these, block the outlets with furniture.
2. Be mindful of any items left around the house. Make sure that these are away from your child’s reach unless it’s safe for them to touch. Other hazardous items include:
   1. Those with choking hazards such as jewelry, magnets, coins, and other small items
   2. Candles, lighters, matches, plastic bags, needles, etc
3. Electrical devices and sockets should be away from any source of water.
4. Cabinets and closets where your child can fit in should have handles and could be opened from the inside. 
5. Use Safety Gates to avoid children from falling down the stairs and to keep kids out of rooms and other potentially dangerous areas. Look for safety gates that are tough for children to remove but easy for adults to open and close. For stairs, only use wall-mounted, sturdy safety gates.

 You can’t always look after your child 24/7 but what you can do is to make sure that the home they live in is safe and secure, not just from outside risk but more importantly the risks from your household itself. 

Be prepared with a family emergency plan

After childproofing your home for toddlers, prepare a family emergency plan that you can use in case of medical emergencies or disasters.

1. Keep an emergency medical kit and a go-bag in your house. Emergency medical kits may contain first aid items and medicines while your go-bag may contain essential items that you may use in times of emergency and disasters. 
2. Identify the risks in your household. Are there hazardous products at home? Is anyone sick and could have a medical emergency? Do you have gadgets or tools installed that need constant maintenance? Make sure that these are monitored and each has a plan in case it malfunctions or causes an emergency.
3. Create a specific plan for each risk. Go into the very detail like who to call, and in what number. Also, create alternative plans in case the original plan is blocked. 
4. Keep emergency hotlines at strategic places in your house. Make this easily readable and accessible.
5. Know your emergency exits and teach them to your kids. Make sure that your kids are able to exit from this way as well.
6. Set a safe meeting place. In case you had to leave the house and some of you get lost or left behind, set a safe place where you can all meet. 
7. Duplicate important documents and store them in a safe place. These documents include birth certificates, insurance documents, licenses, wills, and land deeds. 

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Singapore