Childproofing your home

Is your Baby safe at your home ?

Is your home child proofed to protect your baby from possible injuries ?

Come on , let's have a look on how to childproof your home !

About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed each year, due to hazards in the home. Many of these incidents can be prevented by taking steps to make sure that your home is safe and that you follow age appropriate recommendations for each stage of your child's young life.

There are many devices available to help prevent injury, along with using common sense. Remember, nothing is completely safe and eyes must be on the children at all times. It only takes a blink of an eye, a turn of the head, for an incident to occur.

The Crib

Never use a crib that has missing slots or loose hardware.

If you repaint the crib, use only high quality lead-free paint.

Always lock the side rail when you put your child in the crib.

Use a mattress that fits tightly. If you can fit more than 2 fingers between the edge of the mattress and the crib side, the mattress is too small.

Never place the crib, or any children's furniture near window blinds or drapes.

Never put your baby in a crib filled with stuffed animals, pillows or heavy blankets.

Remove all pillows and soft, loose bedding from the crib.

Remove all such items which may prevent suffocation. 

Never use strings to hang objects, such as mobiles, toys, or a diaper bag in or near the crib. 

Most important, always put your baby on his/her back, on a firm, flat, tight-fitting mattress, to sleep. More infants die or are injured in crib accidents than any other nursery item. 

Crib Toys 

Crib gyms and other toys that stretch across the crib with strings, cords or ribbons can be hazardous for older or active babies.

Make sure crib gyms are installed securely at both ends and cannot be pulled down.

Remove crib gyms and mobiles when your baby is 5 months older, or before, if the baby begins to push up on hands and knees. 

Hanging toys and mobiles should be out of the child's reach. 

Don't use toys that have points that can hook on clothing. 

The Deadly Couch

Infants can suffocate when they get trapped or wedged between the cushions and the back of the couch. 

Co-Sleeping

Consumer Product Safety Commission warns parents not to place their infants to sleep in adult beds, stating that the practice puts babies at risk of suffocation and strangulation.

Swaddling Your Baby

Once your baby is one month old you should stop swaddling your baby when sleeping, as it hinders mobility. The baby is also at risk for overheating.

Play Pens 

Deaths have occurred when the drop-sides of playpens and cribs were left in the down position. 

When a mesh side is let down it forms a pocket. Young infants, even just a few weeks old, can move into the pocket, become trapped and suffocate. 

Deaths have also occurred when the playpen was not securely locked into position, causing it to collapse, entrapping the child's neck. So,.... never leave an infant in a play pen with the side down. 

Remove all large toys, boxes and bumper pads. They can be used to climb out.

Avoid tying any items across the top or corner of the playpen. They can cause strangulation.

Baby Gates

Some gates are dangerous. A child's head can get trapped in the openings of baby gates with accordion-style or large V- or diamond-shaped openings, and can get strangled.  

Expandable enclosures can be equally dangerous.

Be sure the gate is securely anchored in the doorway it is blocking. Children have pushed gates over. 

Pressure gates are not recommended at the top of a stairway. They can pop out of the opening.