Is your toddler on the move? A crawling, standing or walking child may be at risk if your home is not properly toddler-proofed.
Before an accident occurs, review your home’s layout to determine if new safety measures should be added. Carrier Academy of Learning has a few tips to help you get started.
1. Crawling
Toddlers first learn to get around by crawling. Although a small child may not travel far, he or she could easily get hurt. Sides of tables and cabinets may have sharp corners that a toddler can crawl into and experience a head injury.
To prevent these types of accidents, consider adding foam padding or stoppers on these pieces of furniture.
It’s also important to make sure all wires are secured to the floor, walls or covered completely. This includes appliance wires, extension cords and cables. If left loose on the ground, toddlers can easily grab these items and try to put them in their mouths.
2. Standing
Even toddlers who cannot stand on their own yet may be able to pull themselves up to a standing position with some assistance. Consider securing anything that can be pushed or pulled, including curtains that could fall down. This can cause serious injury to a small child and damage to your home.
Do not leave potentially harmful objects in reach of a toddler, especially kitchen utensils and small items like coins, buttons and batteries that can be swallowed and choked on.
Also secure drawers and cabinets with child-proof locks to prevent toddlers from opening them and accessing unsafe items, like cleaning supplies.
3. Walking
After celebrating your toddler’s first steps, the necessary safety measures should be taken to prevent injuries and other new dangers.
Ensure your toddler does not have access to stairs or doors. Blocking off staircases with a baby gate is crucial to preventing serious falls.
If you have outdoor areas that could expose a toddler to danger, make sure to secure those as well. For instance, pools should be fenced in and hazardous products locked in a shed.
To learn more about child-proofing and toddler education programs, contact Carrier Academy of Learning today.