Your toddler is starting to become curious and has probably broken a number of expensive vases in your living room. How do you child proof your home so that your toddler, as well as you valuables, are kept safe?
It seems that the more expensive home decors are the ones that your child goes after. This is true for colorful mats and linens that they love to write on, or the wallpaper designs that cost an arm and leg that they use as a palette for their art work. It’s not because they know that these are pricey, it’s mainly because your toddler is attracted to the colors and designs.
You might as well opt for simpler, and machine washable, covers for your sofa, as kids cannot help but be messy. It’s in their nature and you cannot do anything about it, just yet. If you don’t want to repaint your whole house, then set up a small paint area for your child. Putting up large pieces of paper is a good idea, so you can just peel them off and put up new ones.
Vases and other fragile home accessories should be kept out of your child’s reach. This is also true for kitchen ware and electronic gadgets. Your toddler might get hurt in the process of playing with adult toys. Books should be kept in shelves along with picture frames with glass covers.
Electrical sockets should be covered. New ones with covers can be installed, or you can hide existing ones with larger furniture. You never know what your child might plug into the sockets. Remote controls or other battery operated gadgets should never be left within your child’s reach; as they might accidentally take out the batteries and swallow them.
There is not much you can do about your carpets and rugs, because they are there for one purpose; and that is to keep your floors protected. However, if you are renovating or would like to keep your floors intact, you might want to switch to linoleum or tiles for the time being. Not only are these easier to clean, tiles will also weather various types of accidents; like broken plates, spilled chocolate milk or even the scraping of toy cars.
Your money, jewelry and accessories should be kept inside drawers; along with your other liquid products. Makeup and facial creams should never be left on top of your dresser, as children have a tendency to imitate their parents.
Adult videos, should not be kept inside the same storage as your child’s DVDs. These should be inside your room, under lock and key, especially if your child already knows how to operate entertainment gadgets such as the TV and DVD player.
Having a toddler in your home doesn’t require a lifestyle change for the whole family. But safety should come first, and being wary of the dangers your child might encounter at home is the best defense. Go through every nook and corner, you’ll be surprised how many furnishings you have that might cause harm to your child.
