What To Do To Ensure your Child’s Safety at Home

The average child starts to crawl at 8 months. Soon after they start pulling up, which means counters and other surfaces are now within their reach. It is almost impossible to keep kids a hundred percent injury free, this is because kids can be a handful with all the jumping and running which follows after they start walking. Kids will always be kids and we can’t change that, but here are a few measures that can be put in place to keep them away from the emergency room.

1. Take precaution while bathing your child

While bathing your child, do not fill the bathtub to the brim, fill the tub with just enough to cover your baby’s legs (2 to 3 inches of water). Ensure to use warm and not hot water. Never leave little ones in the tub unsupervised, not even for a few seconds. Put nonslip mats in the bathtub and on the floor next to the tub.

2. Keep kids away from hot kitchenware

Do not be tempted to carry hot food or drink while you are carrying your baby. Keep hot food and drinks away from edges of tables and counters, also do not hold your baby while cooking on a stove. Be sure to secure oven door with an appliance latch, to prevent your child from getting burnt. Kids can burn themselves badly by grabbing pots from the stove or even by just touching it. While cooking, turn pot handles away from the front of the stove to avoid dangerous spills, and watch them closely when they are near the stove.

3. Keep your baby’s crib away from things he may use to hurt himself

Your child spends a lot of time in his crib unsupervised and will discover ways to grab nearby objects and climb or tumble out of the crib when you least expect it. Do not hang anything with a string above your child’s crib . Once your baby can push up on her hands and knees, you’ll have to remove those adorable toys that hang down into the crib because they can be hazardous. When they can pull himself up to a standing position, move the mattress to its lowest position. Keep your child’s crib away from windows low enough for him to climb unto, and also keep his crib away from any wall with paintings or decoration hanging on it.

4. Be sure to lay your baby properly

Sudden infant death syndrome is every parent’s nightmare, but there are ways to reduce the risk. Be sure to always put your baby to sleep on his or her back. The sleep surface should be firm and flat. Do not use pillows, do not use fluffy bedding in the crib, and keep stuffed animals out, too.

5. Make your furniture and electrical fittings baby friendly

While purchasing furniture, make sure they have rounded edges and corners. Ensure you cover any sharp areas with cushions. Firmly attach tall furniture such as bookshelves to the walls with braces or anchors to prevent them from tipping over on your child. Do not forget to close drawers when you’re done with them. Put plastic outlet protectors over all unused electrical outlets.

6. Invest in safety gadgets

If your child’s room doesn’t already have a working smoke detector, be sure to install one. You may also consider investing in a carbon monoxide detector. Make sure you change the batteries at least once a year.

7. Keep kids away from sharp objects

Keep sharp objects like razors and scissors out of the reach of your little ones; children seriously injure themselves on sharp objects. Keep cosmetics, razors, grooming scissors, and medicines in a locked drawer. Kids can easily misuse cutlery and can injure themselves with even the bluntest of utensils.

8. Keep your child away from the trash can

The trash is full of bacteria and harmful objects that can injure and make your child sick. Keep the trash out of your little ones reach.

More Tips to Help Your Children Stay Safe as they Grow

1. Teach your kids to be safety conscious

In today’s world, we must be prepared for anything. Teach your children never to open the front door to strangers, or better still not to answer the door at all than to allow a stranger to know they are home alone. The only exceptions to this rule may be parents and grandparents.

When they get old enough to leave the house alone, train your teens to be aware of their surroundings, especially when they arrive home. Teach them to check in with you when they get home, or when they leave to go somewhere that you have permitted them to. When they see a door or window open, or if they see any damage around the door or windows when arriving home, they should immediately go to a trusted neighbor’s house and call the police. It is much wiser to stay out, than to enter your home where an intruder might be lurking.

2. Teach your kids effective use of their phones

Teach your children to have their parents’ numbers on speed dial in case of emergency.

3. Teach them to say NO when necessary

Teach your children to say NO when an adult asks them to do anything that they are not comfortable with. Make sure you teach them to follow their instinct when an adult makes them feel uncomfortable and that it is okay for them to leave immediately and to tell a trusted adult what happened. It is important that you reassure your children that you will always support them and that you will never be upset at them for trying to protect themselves.

3. Teach kids first aid

Train your children in basic first aid practices, be sure they know where to find first aid items when it is needed. Teach them Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because you never know when it may be needed in an emergency.

4. Prepare them in-case of a storm

Depending on where you reside, storms are inevitable. Make sure your teens are capable of responding in a smart way to each type of threat. Remind them that you are just one call away.

The safety of children is very important and should not be taken lightly. Do everything you can to ensure they are well secured.