Childproofing Indoor Settings

The potential for injury is always around us - these practical suggestions can help to childproof the environment. 

Furnishings

• Round the corners and edges of equipment such as cabinets, shelves and tables to 1/2" radius
• Keep furniture in good repair and free of sharp edges, splinters and pinch or crush points. 
• Use double sided tape so that area rugs lay flat and stay in place. 
• Bolt cubbies and cabinets over 4 ft. in height to the wall using "L" shaped brackets 
•  Store heavy objects on lower shelves.

• Ensure that low sliding windows open no more that 3.5 inches 
• Be certain that windows which open out do not open into a walkway or other path 
• Use tempered or laminated glass to avoid shards if broken. 
• Keep drapery and blind cords out of children's reach. 
• Use Plexiglas to protect low windows where it is not feasible to replace with tempered or laminated glass. 
• Protect glass in french doors with Plexiglas or plywood or replace the doors. 

• Install phone connections in strategic locations. 
• Tape long extension cords along walls or under furnishings to prevent tripping
• Consider using a cordless phone and taking the handset to areas where supervision is required. 

• Remove any hazardous or poisonous plants
• Store plant bulbs and seeds out of children's reach.

• Check labels to avoid toxic ingredients when purchasing art materials.
• Supervise children closely to ensure they don't put paint, brushes, crayons, pencils, pens or play dough in their mouths. 
• Ensure that any toxic materials such as bleach or cleaning products remain in their original labeled containers, well out of children's reach. 
• Be sure that ceilings and walls have no cracked or broken plaster and that there is no peeling or chipped paint. 
•  Repaint with nonleaded paint those surfaces covered with high gloss enamel before 1970. 
• Provide safe storage for purses, tote or diaper bags which may contain hazardous materials such as medications, skin preparations, nail polish, cigarettes, matches, lighters, pen caps or jewelry.

• Ensure these areas are clear of toys, boxes, furniture or other items that might limit safe access or pose a tripping hazard. 
• Keep these passages well lit. 
• Install handrails on both sides of stairways over 4' wide. 
• Use solid plywood or vertical pickets placed closer than 4" apart to prevent children from falling through open spaces between handrails and stairs.

• Secure doors with latches placed at adult height.
• Install safety gates at the top and bottom of all open stairways.
• Avoid safety gates with a "V" shape at the top to that children do not get their necks caught and choke.

• Make certain that children do not have access to pieces of metal such as tweezers, hairpins or wire that they could push into contacts of electric plug outlets.
• Check periodically that safety covers for electric plug outlets are securely in place.
• Be very careful when electric plug outlets are located close to grounding surfaces such as hot air or hot water registers.  In these situations, use childproof electric plug outlets.
• Protect children from coming on contact with space heaters and radiators hotter than 110oF (43oC).
• Place any space heaters at least 3' (90 cm) from curtains, paper or furniture.
• Use ground fault interrupters when electric plug outlets are located in a bathroom.
• Locate any small electric appliances such as hair dryers, radios, kettles, or toasters well away from sinks, tubs or water.
• Keep electric fans out of children's reach.
• Teach children safety rules regarding wiring, plugs and appliances

• Check that toys are in good repair and free of sharp edges, pinch points, splinters or broken parts.
• Repair or discard broken toys immediately so that scratches, cuts and scrapes are avoided.
• Err on the side of caution when purchasing toys with small parts for young children.
• Avoid the possibility of choking by supervising very carefully when children are using small objects such as crayons, marbles, small balls and beautiful junk!
• Ensure that young children do not have access to toys with strings or cords longer that 6" (15 cm) to prevent strangulation.
• Think about using festive streamers rather than balloons which can break and lodge in children's throats.
• Avoid toy boxes with lids as these can cause injury by falling and pinching!
• Teach children to replace toys in baskets, plastic tubs, cupboards or shelves to eliminate tripping and falling over scattered items.

 

• Store caustic detergents and all poisonous substances such as bleach and cleaning solutions in cupboards with a lock or childproof safety latches.
• Keep scissors, knives, needles and pins out of children's reach.
• Mop up any spills immediately to prevent slipping.
• Store plastic bags, which can be the cause of suffocation, well away from children's reach.
• Take extra care if using styrofoam cups and plates or plastic utensils as chewed or broken off pieces could lodge in the child's throat causing choking.
• Place pots and pans with their handles turned towards the back of the stove to prevent spills causing burns.
• Be extremely careful while drinking or carrying hot items when children are in the area.
• Ensure highchairs have a wide base to prevent tipping.
• Locate highchairs away from appliances, windows and sharp corners of counters.
• Use safety straps while children are in highchairs or seated in hook-on-table chairs or booster seats.
• Be certain that hot dogs, raw fruits or vegetables are cut in pieces too small to lodge in children's throats.
• Avoid offering young children foods that increase the risk of choking such as peanuts, hard candy, popcorn, seeds or lumps of peanut butter.

• When purchasing a new or used crib, ensure that the cribs meet all the current regulations for for crib safety in your country.
• Be sure all crib parts are in good condition, with no loose or missing slats.
• Locate cribs, beds and mats away from windows and blind cords.
• Ensure that there is no more than a 1" (2.5 cm) gap between the mattress and the sides or ends of the crib.
• Check that the crib mattress support mechanism is secure.
• Use bumper pads which have no cuts or breaks.
• Prevent infants from falling out of cribs by discontinuing the use of bumper pads and removing any large toys as soon as they can stand.
• Remove cords from pacifiers, if used, to prevent strangulation.
• Discontinue use of any mobiles, crib exercisers and other toys strung over the crib when infants can sit up.
• Consider using a nursery monitor in the infant sleep room when you are involved elsewhere.
• Ensure that playpen walls are made of small mesh netting and that the vinyl pad and rail covers have no breaks or cuts.
• Never offer a propped bottle to an infant.
• Never allow small children to sleep on waterbeds as these can cause suffocation.

• Ensure that platforms or stools used by children to reach the water taps are stable and will not slip.
• Store all toxic materials and cleaning products out of children's reach in a high closet or cupboard with a lock or childproof latch.
• Never leave children unattended on the diaper change table or in a bathtub.
• Make sure that containers of skin cream, lotion or powder are well out of children's reach to prevent them from inhaling or swallowing these items.
• Prevent scalds and burns by installing control devises for all hot temperature water taps so that the water temperature doe snot exceed 110oF (43oC).
• Test the water temperature with your elbow before placing the child in the tub or bath.
• Teach children to turn on the cold water tap before turning on the hot water tap.

• Make sure that equipment is stable and has no sharp edges, points, corners or splinters.
• Check climbers, slides, rocking boats and other equipment for protruding nails or bolts and loose parts.
• Arrange equipment to prevent collisions and ensure a safe traffic flow.
• Set up climbing equipment away from furniture, windows and walls to prevent children from falling against them.
• Place resilient matting under and around structures that are higher that 2' (60 cm) to protect children who may fall.
• Be extra careful around trampolines and rebounders as they have caused many head injuries.

Basements

• Take care that children do not have access to controls for the furnace of hot water tank. 
• Discard unused refrigerators, dryers, washers, freezers.  Remove their doors from the hinges before discarding to prevent a child crawling inside and suffocating.
• Keep paints, solvents, fertilizers, insecticides. laundry products and any other toxic items in a high closet or cupboard with childproof locks or latches.
• Store flammable products far away from the furnace or hot water tank. 
• Ensure that washers or dryers are not used as climbing or play spaces. 
• Always close washer or dryer lids/doors when not in use to prevent a child or small animal from crawling inside.

• Ensure, whenever possible, that home workshops are not accessible to children.
• Lock doors or cupboards where hazardous materials or tools are kept if access to the outdoors is through the home workshop.

• Screen fireplaces securely or equip them with protective guards
• Clean chimneys at least once a year to prevent excessive build-up of combustibles.

• Keep all alcoholic beverages out of children's reach.
• If you have guns or rifles in the house, unload them, and keep them under lock and key in an area not accessible to children.  Better yet, remove them from the home completely.
• Store ammunition separate from the gun or rifle in a closet with locks or childproof latches.