Childproof the Kitchen

Babies and toddlers should always be supervised in the kitchen. It’s the area that holds chemicals, sharp knives and hot liquids and surfaces.

• Prevent toddlers from slipping away and getting into the kitchen by installing a child gate. There are a lot of these on the market, so be sure to read on the latest reviews. The one we listed above is the #1 best seller on amazon.  Easy enough for adults to open, but hard for children’s tiny hands to open.
• Avoid hanging a tea towel over the oven door, as this can be pulled by a child. Also avoid hanging tea towel over the doorknobs, as they can be easier to pull open.
• Keep all low cupboards and drawers closed by using latches. Other items you can keep them on including the fridge or oven.
• Keep chemicals in higher cupboards. It’s common to put cleaning chemicals under the kitchen sink but consider putting them in a higher cupboard for harder to reach access. Maybe swap them with where you store your plates, as these will be harder to break if they gain access.
• Cook mostly on the back rings and keep handles away from the front. Turning the handles will mean toddlers that are walking or reaching up can’t pull the pan over on them.
• Many homes have items out on the side. Keep the items on the side to a minimum and most importantly keep knives in drawers with latches on the drawers.
• When putting knives in the dishwasher, keep them pointing down, so if they do reach in, they will avoid catching a hand (also worth doing this as an adult).

Childproofing the Living Room

A place to relax, watch toddlers and babies explore watching their every move. Something catches your eye on TV or out of the window. Here are some ideas to help you feel more relaxed about their adventurous side.

• Cover the fireplace with a suitable guard. Most modern homes may not even have a fireplace. (I grew up with a coal fire), but even gas fires should have a boundary. If it’s a plugin electric fire, you could remove it all together if you don’t use it.  
• Secure cabinets and bookcases to walls to avoid wobbling. Often this is a simple tag that fixes one side to the cabinet and the other into the wall.
• Keep photo frames up high or hanging on the wall to avoid being knocked over. If they are next to the TV or on a bookcase, a fall can knock them down. Maybe consider using glassless picture frames.
• Corner protectors are a must for any coffee table. A simple slip or fall can cause serious injury. Round off the corners with a simple corner protector. Toddlers can easily fall and bang on a corner.

Childproof your Bathroom

Yay, it’s bath time. Splosh splash we’re having a bath. Some kids love bath time and others will eat sprouts to avoid bath time. (ok maybe not sprouts, but you get the picture).

• Avoid leaving cleaning items in the bathroom. Keep them with the rest of the cleaning items in the kitchen. Easier for you to keep track of where the chemicals or toxins are in the house.
• Can you control the temperature of the hot water? A friend of mine recently moved into a new house and realised there is a limiter on the temperature of the water that comes into the bath. Either that or the elbow test in the water.
• Toilet seat latches. Put these on and watch them fool your mate Steve, never mind the toddlers. When it comes to toilet training age, these can be easily removed.
• Keep any medication locked away. Maybe in a lockable cupboard in the kitchen. Keeping them up and out of reach of a child. Also, be aware of keeping toiletries out of their reach. It might smell like unicorn smiles (whatever they are) but surely doesn’t taste like it when your little one tastes it.

Childproof Your Bedroom

A place to sleep, relax, unwind and be extra safe. Look round your room and think of all the above that you can apply to the bedroom.

Latches on drawers, keep makeup and toiletries out of reach. Put latches/restraints on windows so they can only be opened by an adult.

Childproof your home general areas

For babies and younger children, consider a child gate to control access to different rooms. Commonly used on a child’s bedroom, as well as on the top and bottom of the stairs. Also, keep bags and cables out of reach.

Childproofing Cords

We get it, like you we need to charge pretty much everything we own these days. With that comes that cables. Lots and lots of cables. If you have something plugged in don’t put the item up high, as it can be pulled down on top of them. This includes cords on lamps, laptops, phones etc are all too easy to pull the item down on to the child.

Childproofing Doors

Install safety door stops for kids. Stopping doors from shutting can save fingers from being damaged,  especially little fingers.  

We hope that this list helps and gets you thinking. Think of anything you’d like us to add let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.