'Best Of' ChildSafetyProducts Tips |
| 1. Retractable Baby Gates: An Innovative Idea |
The invention of the retractable baby gate is a relief for parents with active kids! Each gate is expandable usually to 53” and retracts -- safely, without snapping back -- into its own housing. Additional wall brackets can be mounted at other locations in the house, and the same gate can be used to block access. Wall brackets can even be mounted at other houses like babysitters’ and grandparents’ so that the gate can travel along with your child.
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| 2. Cabinet Latches: A Cornerstone of Child-proofing |
Cabinet latches are a critical aspect to child-proofing your home. Babies and children are naturally curious. As they grow, so does their curiosity. By placing cabinet latches on doors that conceal household cleaning products, medicines, or even kitchen utensils, you can prevent your children from doing harm to themselves. Most cabinet latches can also be used on drawers. They are a must in the kitchen and bathroom, where many of these dangerous items can be found.
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| 3. The Flexibility of Baby Gates |
When we think of gates we usually imagine wood or metal barriers. Not all safety barriers are made with these materials! Some are made from Plexiglas or even high-strength fabrics. For example, the KiddyGuard safety barrier protects children up to the age of two from dangerous places. It can be used in doorways and stairways, and expands up to 51 inches. The KiddyGuard fits inside a doorframe or between two walls and is retractable when not in use, making it quite a flexible barrier in more ways than one!
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| 4. What To Hide From Your Child´s Reach |
Several products and household items should be protected from children. Keep chemicals, medicines, adult toiletries (razors, mouthwash, etc.), and other potentially hazardous items in specific cabinets. Install a cabinet door latch on each of these cabinets. (Here´s a secret: you can even place cabinet door latches on drawers you simply don´t want opened, even if they don´t hold dangerous items!)
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| 5. Be careful! |
Be careful yourself while working in your workshop. The safety standards a father sets when working with dangerous tools or materials will also be imitated when you reach the point of training your child on "how to" projects. Besides, how many people count on you now to stay in one piece?
Disable electrical outlets that are not needed. Turn them off at the circuit breaker if possible and practical. |
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| 6. Adult Products and Kids´ Safety in the Bathroom |
Keep all adult toiletries (medicines, razors, cosmetics, mouthwash, etc.) out of reach of children in cabinets with safety locks. If at all possible, do not use electrical appliances like hair dryers in the bathroom. Doing so increases the possibility of electric shock. If you must use such items in the bathroom, have special wall sockets installed that will minimize the risk of shock. Be sure to unplug these appliances immediately after use. Store them in drawers or linen closets whenever possible, out of the reach of children.
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| 7. The Other Rings In The Tub... |
It´s inevitable: You finally get the kid in the bath and the phone rings. Perhaps the number one rule of bathroom safety is to never leave a young child in the bath or shower without your supervision. If you have to answer the phone or the door, wrap your child in a towel. This will prevent your child from catching cold -- not to mention dripping all over the house! Take your child with you to the telephone or door, even if it´s a quick conversation you need to have. It only takes a second for a child to get injured or even drown. The extra steps of getting him/her out of the tub are well worth the alternatives!
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| 8. Effective Use Of Pool Fences |
The primary function of a pool safety fence is to isolate the pool from your home and eliminate a toddler’s access to the water. In order for the pool fence to work effectively, it must not be opened except when it is time to use and/or service the pool. Areas like your home and back yard should be accessible to you without opening the swimming pool fence. The more times a fence is opened, the higher the risk that it will not be closed.
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| 9. Locating Your Child with an Alarm |
By using a locator alarm, you can keep your child close...even when s/he isn´t. A child locator alarm generally consists of a personal alarm for a child and a remote control for the parent or guardian. If the child becomes lost or frightened, s/he can activate the alarm. This alerts the parent as well as others nearby. If the child wanders out of sight, the parent can locate him/her using the remote control to activate the personal alarm on the child. Once the alarm is activated, it may only be deactivated by the parent´s remote control.
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| 10. Outlet Plugs: Safety in a Small Package |
Fingers aren´t the only things children can stick into electrical outlets. Sometimes small toys or household products they´ve picked will be inserted, doing just as much damage. In some cases, even more. One of the most economical steps you can take to prevent this danger is to use outlet plugs in every socket. Plugs for the electrical outlet cover the sockets individually with clear plastic. They can be removed easily by adult fingers when it´s time to use the outlet. Always remember to replace each plug when the outlet is no longer in use.
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| 11. Basic Home Safety Tips |
Here are just a few basic home safety products and guidelines that will help protect your family. Use child-resistant packaging for medicines and hazardous household chemicals. Make sure your hairdryer has a large rectangular plug. The immersion protection device prevents electrocution if the hairdryer is dropped in water. Change the battery in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when you change your clock´s setting in October. Babies on adult beds risk suffocation from hidden hazards such as entrapment between the bed and wall; entrapment involving the bed frame, headboard and footboard; or soft bedding such as pillows or thick quilts and comforters. It´s best to have them sleep in a crib that passes safety guidelines.
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