The Best Ways To Baby-Proof Your House

Parents obviously get very excited when they have a baby and while they're little, although you'll have the sleepless nights, they can't yet crawl about so they're much easier to keep safe! It is even more exciting when the little one gets a little older and becomes a baby-on-the-go. But this is when the potential dangers increase too! The playful and inquisitive child will get from one corner of the house to the other in its escapades, at this age they have no fear, they won't  worry about potential dangers. You as the parent must see all the potentials dangers in your home and take care of the things that may harm your baby. It's a good idea, even before you bring baby home from hospital, to set to with baby proofing your home. There are various things that you will need to know about, identifying and locking down the dangers that are in every part of your house. We'll look at some suggestions below...

Safety Electric Plugs

When a baby is playing around the room, plug sockets can often be at reachable height, little fingers  can often  be tempted to put things in the inviting empty holes of a socket, which can be dangerous if whatever is being inserted into the hole is a good conductor. An electric shock can kill so it's very important to take care of this. Fortunately, there are safety plugs that you can buy for these sockets that the baby can reach. These simply fit into the empty socket as a plug would, filling the holes and so keeping those little fingers out! They are very cheap to buy and are a must-have when baby-proofing your home.

Keeping dangerous items locked away

There are many toxic items around the house. Medicines of any kind should be kept away from babies and young children  because they can ingest them unknowingly. Especially tablets that have a sugar coating; they taste like sweets so a little one could easily unwittingly take an overdose. Always keep medicines in a locked cabinet, preferably high on the wall. Cleaning and DIY products should also be kept  locked away, and when storing products, don't be tempted to use old fizzy drink bottles. Several children have drunk products such as turpentine or bleach because their parents have stored them in a bottle marked 'Lemonade' etc!

Baby Stair Gate

The staircase is another area of your house that is dangerous for your crawling baby, or one who has just learned to take his first steps. A plunge from the higher step down to the base of the stairway can kill or seriously injure your child. To make sure that the child does not get a chance to get access to that area, you should buy and install a baby stair gate, which you will be closing when the baby is playing and crawling around the upper rooms. It's a good idea to have stair gates at the top and the bottom of your staircase, so your child cannot access the stairs at all. 

Water

Water obviously is a drowning hazard, but you may be surprised at how tiny an amount of water you can actually drown in. Never leave a bath or basin unattended with even the smallest amount of water in. Also be very careful if you have a pool or a pond. Tragically children drown in ponds and pools every year.

Hot items

You never want to go through the trauma of seeing your child suffering from a burn. Always keep hot items away from children, such as the iron, and hot pans. When you're cooking, make sure you never leave anything unattended, and turn pan handles inwards so they can't be grabbed. Put a guard around the fire too.

Items within reach

Check your surfaces and floor to make sure there is nothing lying around that could be hazard. Sharp objects are dangerous . Clear sharp objects from the reach of children. Babies are fond of putting everything they come across into their mouths. Small items such as coins can choke them. One thing you may not think of as a hazard is the latex balloons that you use at parties. These should not be left all over the house when you have a crawling child. The danger arises when a child starts chewing the balloons. Balloons are dangerous because they can conform to the shape of the baby’s throat and  block the airway completely. Don't let young children blow up balloons, and keep balloons attached to a wall or furniture away from the smaller children. Pieces of balloons that have popped should be thrown away immediately.

For more information about childproofing your home please visit the Lindam website - http://www.lindam.com/category/safety-accessories.html

Are You Using the Right Kind of Safety Gate in Front of Your Stairs?

You might think all baby safety gates are the same, but you would be making a mistake. There are actually five different kinds of safety gates to choose from, and each one has different features that make it ideal for different situations.

If you have a baby or toddler at home, it is important that you have a safety gate to keep her in safe areas and prevent accidents. Safety gates can be used to contain your toddler to one room so she can’t wander away or they can be used to block off dangerous areas like stairways.

When you choose a baby gate, make sure you are choosing the best one for your home and baby. It is also recommended that you don’t install used baby gates, since you can’t be sure if it is reliable and older models don’t always meet current safety standards.

Hardware Mounted Gates

Hardware mounted gates come with all the supplies you will need to install the gate directly onto a door frame, wall or other stable surface. This kind of gate is extremely sturdy and safe, and there is very little risk that your child will be able to push the gate over.

Keep in mind that hardware mounted gates are more difficult to move from one location to another. This kind of gate is best for a place where you know you will want the gate installed for a long period of time. A hardware mounted gate should always be attached to a stud or sturdy door frame so that it will be completely stable.

Most hardware mounted gates can be used at the top of stairs since they are extremely stable. Be sure to install the gate so that it doesn’t open over the stairs. One tip is to make sure all the adults and older children in your home know how to unlock and securely lock the gate each time they pass through it.

Pressure Mounted Gates

If you are looking for a gate that you can easily move around your home, a pressure mounted gate is a good choice. These gates don’t use hardware, but are braced in an opening instead. Pressure on either side of the gate keeps it sturdy between walls or a doorway, so you can easily adjust it and move it when needed.

Being able to move this gate to different areas in your home is one of the biggest benefits it has to offer. And, since you won’t have to screw hardware into your wall to install it, you won’t have to permanently alter your walls or doorways.

These gates can be less sturdy than hardware mounted gates, and older toddlers may be able to push them over or pull them down if they attempt to climb over the gate. Pressure mounted gates should never be used to block stairs.

Barrier Gates

Barrier gates are very similar to pressure mounted gates because they also use pressure to block off an area. The difference between this gate and other gates is that this one doesn’t have a door for passing through it. Barrier gates are simply barriers that block off a room.

Again, since these gates are pressure mounted instead of installed directly on your wall or door frame, they are very easy to install and move around your home if needed. Since they don’t have a gate, these barriers are ideal for areas that you don’t pass through very often but want to block your child from.

Since this is a pressure mounted gate, keep in mind that it should never be used in front of stairs. This wouldn’t be a good idea anyway, since it would make it very difficult to access your stairway.

Pass-Through Gates

Pass-through gates are probably better defined as a safety gate subtype, since they come in both hardware mounted and pressure mounted models. As the name describes, this kind of gate has a gate that swings open so people can walk through easily, unlike a barrier gate.

This kind of gate is very common and useful, since it works well in areas you use regularly but sometimes need to close off for your baby. In general, gates should have latches or locks that require two steps to open or close, making it harder for your baby to manipulate or accidentally open.

If a pass-through gate is hardware mounted, it can be used to block stairs only if the gate swings in just one direction. If it does, install it so that the gate does not open over the stairs. Pressure mounted pass-through gates or gates that have doors that swing in both directions should not be used in front of stairs, since they don’t provide adequate safety for your child.

Extra Wide Gates

You can purchase safety gates that are wider than average gates to block off larger openings in your home. These gates are perfect for rooms with large, arched entries and can help you keep your baby in a safe area and away from household dangers.

Some safety gates are even designed to fit angles and baseboards, so you can find a model that fits most spaces. Both wide gates and specially designed gates come in hardware and pressure mounted models. This means you can choose an option that is easily moved to different areas or one that is more permanent.

Again, if you choose a wide or specialised gate that is pressure mounted, do not use it to block off stairs. Hardware mounted gates should be installed according to directions and should always be attached to a wall stud or other sturdy fixture.

Choosing the right safety gate is a matter of deciding where you want to install it and whether or not you need the flexibility of being able to move it around your home. It is important to choose the right safety gate for your home and to install it correctly.

When you pick a gate that meets your needs and when you install it and use it correctly, it will help you protect your baby so you can rest assured that she is safe and sound.

Visit - http://www.lindam.com/range/safety/safety-gates.html for more information on baby gates.