Children have the propensity to get into situations which we can never dream of.
I remember as a child getting into some scary situations like falling from trees and trying to jump off high stools and invariably getting hurt, that needed my parents to rush me to a doctor to get me stitched.
We all have stories of ourselves as children, or our children getting into things or situations that are sometimes really scary.
Children tend to touch everything they see or hold with their mouths. According to research exploring things by smelling and tasting is a universal human investigative technique which eventually diminishes based upon experience and learning.
Babies explore many things with their mouths until “bitter experience” teaches them caution; many poisonous substances have a bitter taste, and parents are generally alert to prevent, stop or otherwise discourage inappropriate oral exploration.
Most children gradually learn to discriminate edible objects visually, or based on the social cues and encouragements provided continuously by concerned caregivers.
Here are a few tips to make your home a safe place for your children.
- Move hazardous things out of sight. If you feel a child shouldn’t be touching something even if it isn’t hazardous, move that away too. A child’s mental growth is based upon how much it explores. Make sure you don’t take that away.
- Grow an extra pair of eyes, be alert. Read the labels of all the products in your home, just to be sure that you have an idea of the chemicals that the product has. Also learn how to administer proper first aid, just in case the child ingests one of the chemicals. Keep all emergency phone numbers handy.
- Try and make your home a fall friendly zone. Ensure that sharp corners are padded or camouflaged with furniture, stairways have gates that are child-proof, have slip resistant mats in bathrooms and in places where the floor is smooth.
- When the child is taking a bath, make sure that he/she is not left unsupervised in the bath tub. Keep buckets empty unless supervised and don’t let water sit in the tub for too long.
- The sights and smells from cook tops can intrigue and attract children. Get a stovetop barrier made which not only keeps splatters from coming down on children but it prevents pots and pans from falling or being pulled off the stove.It also makes it impossible for children to reach up and touch anything dangerous.
- Ensure fireplace safety by creating a removable barrier that completely encloses the fireplace area.
- Ensure floor vents are safely secured by screwing these vents to the floor which can easily be unscrewed when cleaning out the duct work is needed.
- Have electricity outlet covers that has sliding panels under the plug hole for it to be child safe.
- Shorten cords on window blinds, or use cord windup devices to prevent strangulation hazards.
- Keep windows and doors locked to keep kids from climbing out or jamming their fingers.
- Children love running freely and getting dirty when playing outside, including the family backyard. There are always dangers lurking, however.
Parents can make the home garden a safe play area with a few safety measures by fencing up the play area, having safe play equipments, storing garden tools and chemicals safely and ensuring adult supervision.
Your child’s safety is in your hands. Keeping your child safe is easier and a lot more fun if you provide a safe and stimulating environment for baby to explore as he grows and develops.
