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Childproofing Your Home
Written by
Elizabeth Wood
Editor In Chief, United Home Improvement
Is your home a safe haven for snooping children? Most homeowners
would agree that their house is far from being a safe place for
toddlers. The best way to ensure your child's safety is to get into
the mind of your child.
It sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how many dangerous areas you
will observe by simply crawling around on your toddler's level. Look
for conditions that can lead to burns, electric shock, falls,
poisoning, and entrapment.
Here are some suggestions to child proof your home:
1. Cover all electrical outlets that are at the height of a small
child. You can purchase child-resistant covers at any local hardware
store.
2. Keep all poisons at high levels and out of reach from small
children. Consider installed child proof locks on cabinets that
contain dangerous chemicals.
3. Keep all sharp objects like knives, scissors, and safety pins out
of reach.
4. Make sure that there is nothing smaller than 1 1/2 inches in
diameter around on the floor that they could get a hold of.
5. Install hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of
stairs and in doorways of any room you don't want your baby to get
into.
6. When cooking, make sure handles are turned inward to avoid
children pulling on them. Failure to do so could result in serious
burns.
7. Store tools, garden, and lawn-care equipment and supplies in a
locked closet or shed.
8. Shorten curtain and blind cords so that small children cannot
pull on them.
9. Keep cigarettes, matches, and lighters out of children's reach.
You may also want to keep screens up to guard against fireplace
entry.
10. Make sure your furnishings are all secure and plugs are out of
reach.
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