Childproofing Your Designer Home: How To Keep Your Family Safe
When parents buy a new house, a top priority is to make it safe for everyone, especially the children. Childproofing has changed a lot in the last decade,both in terms of having better products available and more household hazards to consider. That's why it's important to listen to the experts and evaluate your own home, since every home has a different set of dangers for the children who live there.
But how can you tell at a glance where the potential hazards will be? A great starting point is to get down on the floor and look at the house from the point of view of a child. Are there unprotected electrical outlets? Staircases that a child could fall down? Unlocked cabinets?
And don't forget about the appliances in the kitchen. Dishwashers can provide easy accessibility to sharp knives and forks as well as harmful detergents. The kitchen range is another dangerous appliance. If not installed properly, active toddlers could pull the appliance down on top of themselves.
To make a home as safe as it can possibly be, make sure you've taken some basic safety precautions.
8 Steps To Make A Safer Home For Children
* Install locks on cupboard doors, drawers, and kitchen appliances.
* Place gates at the top and bottom of all staircases and in the doorway of any room you don't want your child to get into.
* Put locks on all exterior doors (high enough so that the child cannot reach them), and install covers on the doorknobs for added security.
* Lower the temperature of the water heater and put an anti-scald device on the bathtub tap.
* Install window locks and use them.
* Cover sharp edges and corners with foam bumpers.
* Insert plastic outlet safety covers on any electrical outlets that are not being used.
* Consider a toilet lock to prevent babies from falling into the toilet (or throwing things into it!).
When you are in the beginning stages of designing your house,consider how the flow of the home can improve child safety. Develop a floor plan that accommodates children both now and in the future. For example,ensure there is a clear line of sight between the rooms of the house, so that the adults can keep an eye on the children wherever they are.
Modern Dangers: Electrical Cords And Heavy Appliances
To prevent any risk of strangulation, experts recommend positioning all electrical cords away from the reach of curious little ones - at a distance of at least one meter, to be reviewed as baby grows. Alternatively, consider replacing any corded appliances with battery-powered options whenever possible.
Another common item to watch out for is the television. Many households have replaced their old, heavy televisions with modern flat-screen sets. The lightweight design of these flat-screens means that they can easily topple if they are bumped into or pulled over by a curious child. Wall mounts for TVs are fairly inexpensive and easy to install, making them a great way to keep both your child and your television safe.
The best tip of all is to try to prevent any unnecessary accidents from happening by childproofing your home as soon as you move in. When designing the house yourself, you have the added benefit of adding safety features even before you move in. By taking a few simple precautions, you can make sure that your home is a safe environment for your whole family.
Commodore Homes has house and land packages in Perth to fit any family's budget. The Perth home builder offers a wide selection of sites and hundreds of designer homes to choose from. Contact Commodore Homes at 08 6555 7522 to make your dream home a reality!
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