Most people think of their homes as safe and comfortable. New parents, however, may not realize that their homes are full of life- and limb-threatening hazards for young children.
More than 5 million children in the United States are injured in the home each year; almost 3,000 of them die, says a report by the National Safe Kids Campaign. The campaign is a public education coalition based in Washington, D.C.
Falls, burns, suffocation, poisoning and drowning are the leading causes of injury to children, said Tom Golden, a registered nurse who started Dr. Baby Proofer, a childproofing consulting company in Dallas. Most of those injuries occur in or around the home, he said.
A kitchen cabinet or drawer may seem innocuous, but its contents can be injurious or even deadly: liquid cleaners, bleach, drain clog removers, knives and metal skewers. Toddlers can crawl under the sink, for instance, and drink a caustic substance, or reach into a drawer and cut their fingers on a knife. That’s why it’s important for new or expecting parents to childproof their homes.
Pharmacist Eric Lower and his wife, Kathy Reidy, a nurse-anesthetist, agree. Before their son, Patrick, was born in October, they purchased drawer latches and electrical outlet plugs to childproof their Arlington, Texas, home. After seeing an “Oprah Winfrey” segment on child safety, they decided to ask for expert advice.
“A baby-proofer on the show talked about outlet covers like the ones we bought and how they were a choking hazard for a child,” Reidy said. The expert also described how infants strangled on mini-blind cords. That’s when the couple decided to call Dr. Baby Proofer. “I just never realized how many children died at home in accidents,” Reidy said.
Baby-proofing consultants like Golden examine a home, point out the potential hazards and recommend a plan and products. Typically, the consultants have tested products like latches and locks and can recommend the best ones. After a consultation, it’s up to the parents how much of the plan to implement, said Cynthia Wheeldon, a registered nurse who owns SAFE-T-Zone, a childproofing business in Grapevine.
Here are some suggestions, most of them from Golden and Wheeldon:
The kitchen
The kitchen–with appliances, sharp utensils and toxic chemicals–is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house, Golden said.
Secure drawers and cabinets below countertop level with latches. The purpose is to keep children away from dangerous objects stored inside the drawers and cabinets, as well as to keep the tots from smashing their fingers in the doors and drawers.
Secure refrigerator doors with straps or locks to keep toddlers from reaching bowls covered with foil or plastic wrap, which can suffocate children.
Install a range-top shield (a plastic skirt that extends upward from the sides of the stove) to prevent children from touching burners or hot pots and pans.
Mount appliance locks on the doors of dishwashers and trash compactors. The locks keep children from reaching sharp objects inside the appliances and prevent the heavy lids from falling on them.
Shield electrical outlets at or below counter-top level with outlet covers. Children can choke on small coin-shaped plug inserts; Golden recommends plate covers with spring mechanisms that slide over the outlets. You have to slide the cover aside to plug in the appliance; when you unplug the appliance, the cover snaps back into place.
Immobilize movable storage drawers or microwave carts by removing the wheels or placing caster cups under the wheels. Otherwise the carts could tip over or run over fingers and toes.
Unplug small appliances when they’re not in use. Never leave a plugged-in appliance near a sink or other water source, even for a moment.
Latch pantry doors to keep kids away from heavy cans, glassware and other breakables.
Bathrooms
“Bathrooms are probably the second most dangerous rooms in a home,” said Wheeldon, the Grapevine baby-proofer. The likeliest injuries are burns (from hair dryers or curlers), scrapes and bruises.
Set the water heater between 120 to 125 degrees to prevent scalding. If you really need to take a hotter shower, install a hot-water thermostat in the bathtub faucet. This device regulates the mix of hot and cold water in the faucet and shower head to the temperature you set, said Rebecca Low, a Fort Worth interior designer.
Lock up or latch all drawers and cabinets from countertop level down.
Move cosmetics and toiletries off vanities and store them out of reach of children. Deodorant, cologne, perfume and shampoo are all toxic if ingested. Potpourri can be a choking hazard.
Put shampoo bottles and soap out of reach in a shower caddy.
Install toilet-lid locks to prevent children from playing in the toilet bowl or flushing away valuable objects such as jewelry or watches.
Never leave hair dryers or curlers plugged in.
Install a rubber mat in the tub to prevent slipping.
Install faucet covers (such as foam or rubber animal-shaped tubes that fit over faucets) and bathtub sidewall covers (rubber or foam pieces that fit over the sides of tubs). These devices minimize injuries in a fall.
Keep medication, even over-the-counter medicine, in locked cabinets. Don’t be fooled by child-resistant medicine bottles, warns Mike Yudizky, poison information officer at the North Texas Poison Center in Dallas; children can break into those bottles. The largest number of calls received by the poison center involves children who have accidentally eaten medicine, he said.
Family and living rooms
Living rooms pose fewer dangers than either bathrooms or kitchens. Most injuries result from falls or trips, Golden said.
If you have handguns or other weapons, make sure they’re stored unloaded and the ammunition and weapon are locked away in separate locations.
Cover floor-level electrical outlets with the sliding outlet covers.
Put your VCR in a cabinet and install a latch or put a child-proof VCR cover on it. Little fingers can be drawn up into the VCR takeup mechanisms and can be bruised or, in extreme cases, severed, Golden said.
Make sure knickknacks and other breakables are out of reach of children or locked in cabinets.
Wind up electrical cords to shorten them, lowering the chances of strangulation, tripping or electrical shock.
Install drapery cord cleats high on the wall or window frame, and tie up all drapery and mini-blind pull cords so they don’t dangle within the child’s reach.
Install a gate at the top and bottom of all staircases. Choose a gate that screws into the wall; the type that is held up only by pneumatic pressure can collapse when a toddler falls on it.
