Children make our family complete. Every parent wishes to create a space where their little one could grow up in a safe, healthy environment. Our homes are built primarily for the comfort of adults, often ignoring the needs of the children, who are naturally curious and become more mischievous every day.
In order to safely baby proof a house, one must be diligent in identifying the objects and spaces that pose dangers and then take steps to rectify them. The process itself is not particularly complicated, but it is not a simple one either. Recently one of our clients booked an under-construction residential property in Sonarpur where the developers have prioritized children safety by providing strategic interiors as well as child-friendly amenities. Mr. & Mrs. Agarwal are business professionals and most of the time stays away from their home leaving their three-year-old toddler with his grandparents and house help. While searching for a new home, they wanted to settle for a home where their child will be safe and happy.
Here are some tips to ensure the safety and happiness of your little bundles of joy.
Secure Furnishings & Decor
Even if your child is small, it doesn’t take much for them to sustain serious injuries if a large piece of furniture falls over. The risk of tipping over is greater for large, heavy items such as bookshelves, dressers, TV stands, and televisions. The best way to avoid this is to fix this type of furnishings to the wall. If you are hanging heavy picture frames and another décor, you need to ensure that they will not fall. You should not use tablecloths or runners on tables because children can pull them and topple things over. Additionally, furniture corner guards may keep your child safe if he or she bumps into something.
Don’t let your kids come into contact with water or electricity
Drowning, burns, and shocks are risks associated with water and electricity. Make sure all electrical outlets are covered and cords are out of reach of your baby. Placing furniture in front of plugs will reduce the chances that your child will pull them. Do not use power strips unless they are placed high up and out of your child’s reach. Make sure your child has limited access to water to reduce drowning risks.
Keep the toilet lids closed and consider locking them with a lid lock. If the handles on sinks are generally too high for your child to reach, you can lock them, so they cannot turn on the water by themselves.
Lock all doors and cabinets
During the first few months after learning how to crawl and walk, an infant is eager to explore new places, try new activities, and explore new things. Besides exposing them to different things, we must also provide them with a safe environment within which they can grow. Parents can prevent their children from opening cupboards or doors by closing them in a way that prevents access.
Beware of the flaky walls
From hot summers to monsoon floods, Indian homes are subjected to diverse climates. As a result of all of these factors, our homes are in poor condition. In almost all of them, walls are damp, flaky, and faucets leak. Leaking taps don’t pose a direct threat to the children, but flaking walls do. Toddlers often put everything in their mouths, but we can avoid them ingesting paint flake pieces. Make sure to use lead-free paint when you paint your walls.
Keep chemicals away from children
Parents should make sure that children are not exposed to hazardous chemicals. Children often spread detergent all over their bodies when they play with washing detergent. These chemicals can be extremely toxic to children. Keep all your medicines out of reach of children. While buying a home, check all the potential storage spaces where you can keep all the things safely out of children’s reach.
