How to toddler-proof your home
Accidents can happen so quickly at home – here is some advice on how to make homes safer for little ones ...
“Accidents can happen so quickly – especially when you have a toddler in the house. Though it is beyond anyone’s control to prevent all mishaps, there are certain steps homeowners can take to lower the risks of accidents in their household,” said Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
Below are his suggestions for how to make each room in your home kid-friendly:
• Kitchen:
Remove dials on gas stoves when not in use (if possible), switch off electric stoves at the wall when not in use, and store detergents and knives in top cupboards instead of at toddler-reaching levels.
Add child locks on all cupboards, purchase a lidded trash can as opposed to an open one, and add latches to your fridge and oven doors.
• Bathroom:
Remove razors, nail clippers, shampoos, mouth-washes and all other products from accessible places and store them in a locked cupboard or in a mirrored vanity cupboard above the basin instead.
Add a toilet lock on the toilet lid, a non-slip mat in the bathtub to prevent falls, and set your geyser to a lower temperature (about 50 degrees C) to prevent your toddlers from severely scolding themselves if they accidentally open the hot water tap.
• Lounge:
Remove easily breakable items (especially glass items that can shatter when dropped) and store all electronics on top shelves rather than near the floor.
Add plastic wiring covers, a toddler gate around the fireplace to prevent your toddler from going near it, plush rugs and soft-edged furniture to protect your toddler from hard bumps when they stumble.
• Garden:
Remove gardening tools and pesticides from accessible areas and store them in the garage or in a locked shed, pull out any thorn-bushes or poisonous plants, and remember to wind the hosepipe up, rather than leaving it unwound as a tripping hazard in the back yard.
Add a cover for swimming pools, and consider installing a fenced-off play area from which all potential hazards have been removed.
“As many baby-proofing products and tips as there are, homeowners need to consider that not all homes have been designed with young children in mind. There are certain homes that pose great risks to young children (double-storey homes with open balconies, for example).
“To avoid the route of renovations that will result in construction zones, which are equally as hazardous for your child, homeowners might need to consider relocating to a safer home for their new family,” Goslett concluded.
For more information, or to find an agent who can help you find a more toddler-friendly home, visit https://www.remax.co.za.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
