Make Your Home Child-safe, Room by Room
Here’s a checklist of things you can do to ensure your home is a safe living environment for your children
Children are naturally curious and blissfully unaware of the dangers as they explore their surroundings – leave them alone for a minute and you just might find an upturned flowerpot or toy down the toilet… Accidents at home may include falls, accidental burns and scalding and swallowing harmful objects or substances. Most of these accidents are preventable through greater awareness of potential dangers and improved home safety, notes Healthxchange.sg.
The best way to reduce the risk of accidents in the home, is to remove the potentially harmful object or to implement safety measures. Safety rails, non-slip rugs and the like, aside, here are some tips for those often-used rooms in the home.
The best way to reduce the risk of accidents in the home, is to remove the potentially harmful object or to implement safety measures. Safety rails, non-slip rugs and the like, aside, here are some tips for those often-used rooms in the home.
Bathtubs or shower stalls
Install non-slip strips or mat at the bottom of the bathtub, if you have one.
And supervision is key to keeping a young child safe in the bathroom – never leave a child alone, even for a minute, as a he or she can drown in just a few inches of bath water.
Tips for choosing shower tiles
Install non-slip strips or mat at the bottom of the bathtub, if you have one.
And supervision is key to keeping a young child safe in the bathroom – never leave a child alone, even for a minute, as a he or she can drown in just a few inches of bath water.
Tips for choosing shower tiles
Toilet
Make it a habit to close the toilet lid in the bathroom. And a get a toilet lid lock installed especially if you have a very young child.
Make it a habit to close the toilet lid in the bathroom. And a get a toilet lid lock installed especially if you have a very young child.
Bathing necessities
Place items that your child might need at a height that’s easily reached by him or her. This lessens the chance of the child trying to figure a way to get to the item e.g. climb up on a stool.
Place items that your child might need at a height that’s easily reached by him or her. This lessens the chance of the child trying to figure a way to get to the item e.g. climb up on a stool.
Medicine and extra toiletries
Keep medicines locked away. This also applies to bathroom basics such as shampoo and shower gels. That red strawberry-scented shower gel can be a very tempting ‘treat’ for a young one. Ensure these are kept out of sight, and out of reach. Make sure cabinet doors and drawers are fitted with child-proof locks.
Keep medicines locked away. This also applies to bathroom basics such as shampoo and shower gels. That red strawberry-scented shower gel can be a very tempting ‘treat’ for a young one. Ensure these are kept out of sight, and out of reach. Make sure cabinet doors and drawers are fitted with child-proof locks.
Electrical appliances
It would be ideal if you could use electrical appliances in another room but if you have to do so in the bathroom, unplug them and store them away immediately after use. Make sure you store them in a space that has been fitted out with a child-proof or safety lock.
How to hide light switches and more
It would be ideal if you could use electrical appliances in another room but if you have to do so in the bathroom, unplug them and store them away immediately after use. Make sure you store them in a space that has been fitted out with a child-proof or safety lock.
How to hide light switches and more
KITCHEN
Cabinet doors and drawers
It’s impossible to keep a child out of an open-concept kitchen so you have to be extra vigilant here. Even if your kitchen is enclosed, install soft-closing hinges on cabinet doors for ease of use and to prevent fingers from getting clipped.
Cabinet doors and drawers
It’s impossible to keep a child out of an open-concept kitchen so you have to be extra vigilant here. Even if your kitchen is enclosed, install soft-closing hinges on cabinet doors for ease of use and to prevent fingers from getting clipped.
Cleaning products
“Children are often attracted to the colourful containers of household cleaners and other harmful products. They can mistake them for something they can eat or drink,” says Dr Kenneth Tan, associate consultant from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Singapore General Hospital. Read more of their tips here.
Ensure your cabinet doors and drawers are fitted with safety locks.
Check out these natural products to clean your home with
“Children are often attracted to the colourful containers of household cleaners and other harmful products. They can mistake them for something they can eat or drink,” says Dr Kenneth Tan, associate consultant from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Singapore General Hospital. Read more of their tips here.
Ensure your cabinet doors and drawers are fitted with safety locks.
Check out these natural products to clean your home with
Hobs
Choose induction hobs instead of gas stoves, which pose more of a danger with its open flames. And turn all pot handles inwards to prevent them from being knocked over or grabbed by curious hands.
If space permits, include lots of storage options to keep appliances and tools (especially those with sharp blades or edges) out of sight when not in use. This includes food processors, blenders, can opener and graters.
Choose induction hobs instead of gas stoves, which pose more of a danger with its open flames. And turn all pot handles inwards to prevent them from being knocked over or grabbed by curious hands.
If space permits, include lots of storage options to keep appliances and tools (especially those with sharp blades or edges) out of sight when not in use. This includes food processors, blenders, can opener and graters.
Electrical outlets
Hide electrical covers from inquisitive fingers. Plug covers on electrical outlets can also
up the safety level of any room in the home.
Hide electrical covers from inquisitive fingers. Plug covers on electrical outlets can also
up the safety level of any room in the home.
BEDROOM
Windows and curtains
Window grills are a must especially if you live in a high-rise. Be sure to add safety catches to prevent windows from opening more than they should.
Blind cords or chains and curtain tie backs are potential choking hazards so keep these out of reach of children’s hands.
Windows and curtains
Window grills are a must especially if you live in a high-rise. Be sure to add safety catches to prevent windows from opening more than they should.
Blind cords or chains and curtain tie backs are potential choking hazards so keep these out of reach of children’s hands.
Storage units
Keep favourite toys, books and other items in toy boxes or drawers that can be easily reached by your child so he or she won’t have to climb on astool get them.
Other less used toys may be kept higher up and out of sight (preferably in boxes).
The miracle of organised children’s toys
Keep favourite toys, books and other items in toy boxes or drawers that can be easily reached by your child so he or she won’t have to climb on astool get them.
Other less used toys may be kept higher up and out of sight (preferably in boxes).
The miracle of organised children’s toys
Furniture
Children love to climb and explore, and freestanding furniture can be a potential danger. To prevent large pieces of furniture such as chests of drawers and wardrobes from tipping over and hurting your child, secure them to the wall (check with seller if they provide or sell wall brackets).
Children love to climb and explore, and freestanding furniture can be a potential danger. To prevent large pieces of furniture such as chests of drawers and wardrobes from tipping over and hurting your child, secure them to the wall (check with seller if they provide or sell wall brackets).
Lighting
Keeping a tiny night light on will help children find their way around the room or to the bathroom if they wake up in the middle of the night.
And sometimes, just having a night light nearby is comfort enough for a child.
TELL US
How do you ensure a safe environment for your child at home? Share your tips with us in the Comments section below.
MORE
5 Rules for Designing Your Child’s Bedroom
Keeping a tiny night light on will help children find their way around the room or to the bathroom if they wake up in the middle of the night.
And sometimes, just having a night light nearby is comfort enough for a child.
TELL US
How do you ensure a safe environment for your child at home? Share your tips with us in the Comments section below.
MORE
5 Rules for Designing Your Child’s Bedroom
Flooring and walls
Non-slip tiles and grab bars are a given. They help steady small feet and little hands as well aid any seniors in the family.