Child Proof Your Home

Child Proof Your Home

Everyone has a "war story" from his or her childhood. We jammed fingers in doors, fell down the stairs and knocked boiling water off the stove.

Sadly, 5 Australian children are killed every week and hundreds more hospitalised due to household accidents.

The three most common injuries are falls, scalds and burns, and poisonings.

Kidsafe – the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia – provides a comprehensive list of how accidents happen, and most importantly, how to avoid them.

The kitchen is one of the most dangerous areas in the house. If you can’t lock the kids out then:
Keep pots behind a stove guard.
Make sure all pot handles are turned to face the wall and are on the back burners.
The glass oven door gets really hot so make sure it’s covered with a heat-resistant shield.
Keep appliances away from the edge of bench tops and keep their cords short.
Keep all medicines and household cleaners locked away – always. The magnetic lock is a great one, it’s simple to use and there’s no fiddling.

Moving onto the dining room:
Non-slip mats aren’t as easy to grab onto as a tablecloth.
Make sure cutlery and plates are well away from the edge.
And hot drinks should be in the middle of the table.

Next is the bathroom:
Tap caps are a good idea because toddlers don’t know the difference between hot and cold water.
Ensure the water temperature is limited to 50 degrees Celsius – 10 degrees more and it scolds.
Install non-stick mats to prevent falls.
Glass doors are a worry. Have toughened safety glass installed and use stickers at eye level.
And of course with toddlers in the home, you must have safety gates at the top and bottom of any stairs.
Make sure all electrical outlets are covered so nothing can be poked in the holes, and check your home for any sharp corners that should be covered.

But most importantly, make sure your child always has adult supervision.
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