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First Years (0-2)

Caution: crawler Get a baby’s-eye view to find hidden dangers. By Kaysie EllingsonPublished: September, 2009

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You look straight ahead and spot a slightly open cupboard door, which lures you to explore it, revealing a poisonous world under the sink. To the right, screwed into the baseboard at carpet level, is a small rubber door stop. Covering the door stop’s tip is a rubber piece that’s small enough to put in your mouth. You crawl toward the sharp edge of a coffee table that is situated at head level. Your world, only 18 inches off the ground, poses a dangerous, yet avoidable, threat to you and others your size.     Throughout every household, there lurks a wide variety of life-threatening hazards that can be eradicated through simple, attentive alterations.     “The best thing to do is get on your hands and knees and look from your child’s perspective,” says Robert Lockheimer, owner of Baby Safe Homes. “This fresh view will reveal possible electrical hazards, choking hazards and chemical hazards that only a crawling baby would find.”     Many parents face problems when attempting to baby-proof their house.     “The biggest problem we find is product (quality),” says Ken George, owner of Safety for Toddlers.     Many people sacrifice good quality products for a cheaper price. Safety for Toddlers and Baby Safe Home both help parents to baby-proof their homes to effectively avoid possible injuries to their children.     “At Safety for Toddlers, we won’t compromise the safety of a child,” George says. “We assist parents by finding top-of-the-line products, and help to install these products in their home.”     It is important for parents to remember that, from a baby’s perspective, few things are higher than 18 inches above the ground. They need to be aware of cupboards under the sink that contain toxic cleaners, as well as any drawers within reach that contain glassware, knives or sharp objects. Toilets should be secured with safety latches, because children can drown in as little as 2 inches of water. Dry cleaning bags should be out of reach at all times.     Doorstops with rubber ends are easy for a baby to grab and choke on. Electrical outlets must be covered to prevent electrocution. According to Lockheimer, the most dangerous area of the house is the staircase; baby gates should be installed at both ends, top and bottom. A fall from a staircase can be fatal to a small child.     Avoid using accordion-type gates, which can pinch small fingers and create a ladder effect. Stair posts should be no more than 4 inches apart to prevent a small head from getting stuck.     Emergency phone numbers should be placed near every telephone.     “Injuries are not accidents,” says George. “They are preventable and predictable.”     babysafehomes.com safetyfortoddlers.com Kaysie Ellingson is an OC Family magazine intern. SAFETY FIRST Look for these great products for protecting baby: > Easy Open & Lock Gate The gate comes with two extensions, is easy to operate with one hand and blends in with any home. Equipped with a two-way swing and auto close, this gate is perfect for keeping little ones out of trouble and away from harm. > Anti-Tip Furniture Straps Equipped with two furniture straps, this product stabilizes the furniture children love to climb, to ensure that top-heavy pieces won’t topple over. > Pool Patrol Alarm Sounding as soon as the water’s surface is broken, this alarm system alerts parents if their child falls into the family pool. It comes equipped with a floating unit and a receiver, which both sound when anything weighing 9 pounds or more falls into the pool. Source: One Step Ahead HIDDEN DANGERS Give your whole house a safety inspection. Kitchen > Latch the trash compactor, dishwasher, refrigerator and cupboards. > Keep pot handles turned inward on the stove. > Remove hazardous chemicals from bottom cabinets. Bathroom > When not in use, keep the bathroom door shut. > Make sure hot water does not exceed 120 degrees. > Keep electrical appliances away from water. Bedroom > Do not hang mirrors above beds. > Empty night stands of all medicines. > Keep all electrical outlets covered. Living Room and Den > All furniture should have rounded corners and be placed away from windows. > Put a barrier gate with an automatic locking device at the top and bottom of stairs. > Anchor any furniture that could fall. Source: Safety for Toddlers

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