Hidden Child Safety Dangers

When child proofing your home have you considered these hidden child safety dangers?

Before you bring baby home from the hospital you read all of the books. You’ve made sure you know how to care for your child, you know back is best for sleep and you’ve chosen a car seat with the highest safety rating.

As your newborn grows and begins to crawl you research the best in safety products – you add bumpers to the corners of the coffee table and install child safety plugs into all of your electrical outlets. You’ve got it all covered…or do you?

Unfortunately may children are injured due to accidents that could have been completely avoidable, had we been aware of the hidden child safety dangers in our homes.

Hidden Child Safety Dangers in Your Home

As the mom of four, we have experienced our share of bumps and bruises from accidents in the home – as hard as you try, you just can’t protect them from everything. But you CAN make sure that you’ve surveyed your home and you’ve discovered all of the hidden dangers that might be lurking.

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These are a few of the hidden child safety dangers to consider when childproofing:

Safety Dangers in the Bedroom

Blankets – safety recommendations are to not use blankets, pillows, or bumpers in a child’s crib until 12 months old HOWEVER, most toddlers are quite wild sleepers. Even though you may think your child is ready for a blanket you may want to keep them in a sleep sack until they are much older.

Dressers – the obvious is to bolt down all heavy furniture. The hidden danger here is what might be on top of the dresser. Large items that could be pulled down on top of the child if they get inquisitive.

Wall hangings – I am very fearful of wall hangings over a child’s bed or crib. You never know when they may be able to pull it down on top of themselves or it may fall int he event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake.

Safety Dangers in the Kitchen

Counters – your little one may surprise you at just how tall they are once they start walking. Your cooking habits will need to change to keep everything away from the edges of the counters. Little hands can reach up and grab knives and pots in a split second. Make sure all knives and cutting boards are pushed to the back of the counter and pot handles turned towards the back.

Stove – if you have an electric range I’m sure you know that they stay hot long after you’ve turned them off. As much as you have to worry about the knobs being turned on a gas range, you have to worry about burns happening on an electric stove long after you’ve finished cooking. They make both knob covers and front range protectors to keep little hands from being burnt.

Dishwasher & Laundry– I’m sure you’ve locked up all your poisonous cleaning supplies (or better yet, you’ve switched to non-toxic alternatives) but have you considered the little pods that are so popular for both the dish washer and clothes washing machine? They look like candy to a toddler!! Put them up high out of reach or in a locked cabinet.

Safety Dangers in the Living Room

Window Blinds – the cords to your window blinds are a strangulation hazard. A child can get wrapped up in them and not be able to get undone. We use small command hooks on the inside of our windows at the top of the pane to loop and secure cords so that they are not hanging down where a small child could get ahold of them.

Side Tables & Decor – Just as heavy furniture in the bedroom, it is always a good idea to bolt down the heavy furniture in the living rooms as well, including the TV! When it comes to decor, keep the heavy stuff to the back or up away from little hands can pull it on top of themselves.

Water Safety Dangers

If you have swimming pool I’m sure you’ve put up a fence so your child can’t accidentally fall in but there are may other water safety dangers lurking around your home.

Toilets – keep all the lids shut and locked if necessary. A toddler can fall in head first and not be able to pull themselves out.

Bathtubs – make sure water is drained immediately. This is one for those that have older children that bathe themselves. My older children constantly need to be reminded to let the water out when they are done.

Buckets – if you have a bucket of water – whether from washing a car or mopping the floor – dump it out immediately. Just as with a toilet, a toddler is top heavy and if they fall in they may not be able to get themselves. out.