Whether you’re about to be a parent, or you’re already pretty deep into the world of child-rearing, you’re always full of worries about your kids. Are they safe out there when they’re at school or nursery, and are they safe even in the comfort of your own home? Of course, we’d all like to think that the answer to the latter question was a resounding ‘yes’.
However, there are plenty of risks in your home, a lot of which you may not have even considered. After all, you’ve got a lot on your plate when you’re trying to look after a little human, right? Here are 8 easy ways that you can make your home kid-friendly.
#1: Keep toxic cleaning products out of reach
Children are naturally curious, and they love to pick things up. 9 times out of 10, the things that they pick up also end up in their mouths, which isn’t great news if the item in question could be harmful to their health. Keep cleaning products out of reach; high up cupboards are usually a good idea. Of course, it seems obvious, but you can forget.
#2: Utilise stair gates
Stairs are another thing that could present safety issues for your children, so you should be sure to add stair gates into your home as soon as your baby starts crawling. You can find many cost-effective options out there, and they aren’t too difficult to install, either. However, it will help to put your mind at rest when your little one begins their adventures!
#3: Be cautious with your blinds
A lot of us have blinds in our homes, and we wouldn’t usually consider that they pose that much of a risk. However, they can be extremely dangerous where children are concerned, and you need to make sure of a few things. Firstly, they should have safety chain connectors, so that they snap when any pressure is applied. If possible, they should have no cords at all!
#4: Make your furniture safe
OK, so naturally it’s not a great idea to go out and buy a lot of glass furniture if you’re expecting. Your decor and furniture should be safe for kids, and should not have sharp edges. You can get corner protectors for your tables if this is the case, and if you’re thinking about having a bit of a renovation before your baby arrives, then check out these 5 kid friendly flooring options, too! You can never be too careful, when renovating our house we have been able to think about kid-friendly from the start.
#5: Learn basic first aid
There are many risks that present themselves in your home, and you can do your best to prevent them when they occur. However, there are some things that you just can’t control, and knowing basic first aid for any accidents is absolutely key. Your home becomes considerably safer when you’re more clued up on the right responses, so be sure to learn CPR and other vital medical information.
#6: Keep windows and doors locked
When you don’t have children, you can be more relaxed about leaving windows and doors unlocked and open when you’re inside the house. However, this becomes an issue when you have little ones, as they are, by nature, explorers. This means that you could find your child trying to make a great escape out of the window, which is every parent’s worst nightmare. Make locking them a habit!
#7: Use parental controls on your tech
When kids get to a certain age, they start to use technology. Whether they’re playing games on apps on your iPad, or they have their own games consoles, it’s important to think about whether you want to make use of the parental controls available. There is a lot of stuff out there on the internet that would make any parent worry, so see what you can do to make your tech kid-friendly!
#8: Don’t share your personal information online
OK, so most parents wouldn’t fall into this trap. However, with the increasing prevalence of online sharing, we’re putting images of our kids out there into the world, and it could pay to be careful what you’re actually doing with them. Don’t share anything that could identify where you live, as it could increase the risks to your child’s safety, even in your own home environment.
So, if you want to make your home kid-friendly, then keep these things in mind. The more that you can prevent these risks now, the easier it will be to ensure that your children are safe and happy, as they should be in their own homes. Good luck!
