NEW BABY SMARTS

"How To BabyProof Your Home Part One" 

Did you know that nearly 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. These accidents can be prevented - by using simple child safety devices and some careful planning.

The perfect way to prepare your house for a little one starts at their level! Get down on your hands and knees! That way you can get a good look at things from baby's perspective and see what they see. You won't believe the hazards you'll come across just by doing this.

Babyproofing a house can be daunting because it means looking out for dangers that otherwise might never occur to you. With a little patience and some common sense, however, it can be done.

Here's a list of ideas and cautions to get you started....

SAFETY LATCHES and LOCKS on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines and household cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.

In hardware stores find safety latches and locks that adults can easily install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a guarantee of protection, but they can make it more difficult for children to reach dangerous substances. Even products with child-resistant packaging should he locked away, out of reach; this packaging is not childproof.

LID & CABINET LOCKS: Toilet lid locks are essential if you are to keep your child away from water. Select a good one, and make sure you install it properly. Always close and latch bathroom doors. It's also a good idea. experts say, to lock the medicine cabinet.
 
SAFETY GATES: They can help keep children away from stairs or rooms that have hazards in them. Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more secure than pressure gates.

The pressure-style gate is popular because with one hand you're able to lock it in place or pull it up. This type of gate is best in temporary situations when you have a child visiting for a little while. A swinging gate, in which a fixed jamb is screwed into both walls, is a better permanent solution. Avoid accordion-style folding gates, which can trap small fingers, or gates designed to contain pets. Try to secure the gate to a wall stud. Never anchor it to just the wallboard or plaster.

New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have an older safety gate, he sure it doesn't have "V'' shapes that are large enough for a child's head and neck to fit into.

DOOR KNOB COVERS & DOOR LOCKS:  There can help keep children away from places with hazards, including swimming pools.

Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency. By restricting access to potentially hazardous rooms in the home, door knob covers could help prevent many kinds of injuries. To prevent access to swimming pools, door locks should be placed high out of reach of young children. Locks should be used in addition to fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with locks that must be re-secured after each use, are often not an effective barrier to pools.

ANTI-SCALD DEVICES:  Regulating water temperature can help prevent burns.

Consider using anti-scald devices for faucets and showerheads. A plumber may need to install these. In addition, if you live in your own home, set water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.  Consider loosening the bath hot water tap handle, allowing you to remove it when not in use. Install a full-length bath mat and a spout guard in the bath.

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