Make Sure Your Home is Child Proof

Childproofing the House

All windows above the first floor should have operable window guards, because children can fall from windows that are open as little as 5 inches wide.

Doorknob covers should be installed to prevent children from turning the door handle, and guards should be installed to keep children from pinching their fingers.

Cabinets should be secured with safety latches, especially if they contain potentially hazardous substances.

Stairways should have safety gates installed.

Safety locks or covers should be placed on toilets, dishwashers, ovens and stoves and stove knobs.

Bookshelves and other stand-alone furniture should be secured to prevent the risk of it tipping over.

Sharp-edged furniture should be removed from or covered in any room where the child is going to play.

Unused electrical outlets should be covered with safety plugs, and excess electrical cord should be bound with twist ties or wound around special spools.

Poisonous plants should be removed from the home. These include azaleas, daffodils, mistletoe, holly, morning glory, and many others.

Walls and floors should be inspected to make sure walls have no peeling or cracking paint, and that rugs are secured to floors or fitted with anti-slip pads.

People who live in homes built before 1978 should verify that there is no lead paint in the home, which may cause lead poisening in children.

To protect the child from house fires, smoke alarms should be installed and tested each month to make sure they work. Fire extinguishers should be placed on every floor, with an extra fire extinguisher placed in the kitchen. An emergency ladder should be available for evacuations from the upper floor of a home.