We all want to be able to create a safe environment for children. And whether you need to upgrade your home or there is a baby on the way, now you have to think about looking at it from your child’s perspective. Young children are naturally curious individuals, so you need to assess your home from specific dangers. There are more children taken to hospital arising from an accident in the home than anywhere else. And there are many ways for us to make a safe home for our children. Here are some of the following.
How to Prevent Your Children from Finding Hazards
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The reality is that there are so many different hazards in the property. The best thing that you can do first of all is to prevent any potential hazards by addressing what is already around. When it comes to electricity, you need to make sure the wires are hidden behind heavy furniture or concealed, but also now is the perfect opportunity to check the safety of these items. This is especially true if you live in a rented property, and the pandemic has meant that nobody has come out to check these things. You can hire an electrician to conduct an electrical installation condition report (EICR), and the EICR price is fair in comparison to most standards. But it’s also peace of mind knowing that you’ve had someone truly assess the electricity in the property. With regards to other hazards, you need to have plenty of locks, for example, keeping first aid supplies in a locked cupboard, having padlocks on cupboards with hazardous substances, and making sure that these are all stored safely out of your children’s reach.
Preventing the Risk of Drowning
It’s important to remember the children of babies can drown in as little as 5 centimetres of water. When your children are in the bath or playing near water, you have to be vigilant. When your children are having a bath, you’ve got to stay with them. If your children sleep under the water, they won’t make a noise, and so you may not be aware if your child gets into trouble. Additionally, you should wait until the water has drained completely before leaving a room. You may think that bath seats are a good thing, but the problem with bath seats is that they are prone to tipping over. When your child is having a bath, the best thing for you to do is to have a non-slip bath mat on the bottom, and fill the water very shallowly. But also remember other water hazards around the house, such as garden ponds or any containers or buckets. It’s important to make sure that these are always empty.
Preventing Burns and Scalding
Younger children are more prone to burning and scalding than older children. The biggest culprit of scalding is hot drinks. To prevent scalding always make sure you keep mugs away from any surface edges. It’s also worth noting that you should never pass a hot drink to a mother who is breastfeeding because even the smallest drop could scald both the mum and the baby. A hot drink can scald a child 15 minutes after being made, so when in doubt, keep it out of reach. When it comes to burns, make sure that you are keeping the appliances serviced. If you have a fireplace, make sure that it is serviced and checked according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You should also make sure that there is a fireguard, and make sure that there are no items up on the mantelpiece that will be tempted for your child. It’s also worth remembering that in case of fire, always have an escape route planned. Planning and preparing is always the best way to make sure that you can all get out in an emergency.
Preventing Suffocation
For younger babies, it’s important to give your child a safe sleeping place. Babies are best to stay in cots. And while you may think that the child is sleeping on you, you can put them on the couch, the best thing to do is to put them in the cot. If you let them sleep on the sofa, there could be large gaps and big cushions which could be dangerous. Also, make sure that any nappy bags or plastic bags are kept out of reach. When in doubt, make sure that you tie a knot in the top of his plastic bags as this will stop your child from trying to open them.
So, before you start redesigning your garden and renovating a property for your young children, the best thing to do is to make sure that it is safe first and foremost.
Note: This is a collaborative post
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