When you’re expecting your first child,
it’s easy to believe that someone will be looking after your baby at all times,
that she’ll never be left alone, and that you will be model parents all the time. It doesn't happen like that. It doesn't mean you’ll be a bad parent or
that your child will be left to fend for herself. No, of course not. But expectant parents simply have no concept
of how busy a toddler can be – or how tired they’ll be. At some point, you’re likely to nod off without
warning and certainly without wanting to; that’s just part of the incredible
challenge of parenting.
Now, consider your home without safety measures
one more time before you dismiss the need for baby proofing and security barriers.
Troubling Statistics
Still not convinced? Then consider that 500,000 children under
four years old are injured in the home
in the UK – every year. That’s right;
these children are injured in the place that we deem it safest to be. It’s a little frightening. And, keep in mind that these are reported accidents, and when an accident is
reported, it’s severe enough to warrant attention, not a bruised knee. Who knows how many unreported accidents there
are every day.
35,000 of those reported accidents are children
falling down stairs (and remember that’s falling hard enough to cause concern). Another 30,000 children head to the A&E because
they’ve managed to get their hands on poison (usually the pretty bottles kept under
the sink). And, although the most serious
incidents happen in the kitchen, the highest number of accidents happen in the lounge
or living areas.
None of these incidents is
intentional. No one expects, or wants,
their children to be hurt. And, by and large,
these children don’t have negligent parents either. These parents just didn’t consider how quickly
they would nod off or how fast super toddlers can get into mischief when they turned
their back for just a minute. Please, don’t become part of these statistics. Please give your children the safety they deserve;
invest in safety gates and everything else you need to provide a safe, secure home.
Trouble Areas in Your Home
While your entire home needs child-proofing,
there are a few areas in any house that really need to be considered strongly.
Stairwells
– Consider yourself lucky if you live in the UK and
you don’t have to contend with stairs in your home; most people do. (Although you may want more space than your one-level
flat provides, you may just want to hold off until your children are stair-safe. Trust us on this one.)
Kitchen
– If the most serious accidents happen in this place,
you’ll obviously want to take note of that and plan against it. Remember that kitchens are notoriously filled
with small, bright, interestingly shaped objects like knives and drain cleaners. It’s a no-brainer; this room is unsafe for small
children.
Living
Rooms – This is the room with the most accidents,
and it’s not hard to guess why. There’s furniture
to climb on (and fall off of); there’s an entertainment centre with fantastic looking
wires in the corner and there’s that tempting bookshelf to climb. This area says cosy to you, but spells disaster
for unattended children.
Bathroom
– Most bathrooms have multiple levels of threats,
beginning with the toilet. After that,
there are medicines (and usually harmful cosmetic products) and razors; not to
mention hot water burns or the danger of anything electrical coming into
contact with water. And remember, it’s more
difficult to lock off the bathroom than it is the garage.
Where Do You need Safety Gates?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions
from new parents, and rightfully so. Properly
secure safety gates are not cheap. They can’t
be if they’re meant to do the job. Understandably,
young families are concerned about their budget, especially with a new consumer
in the house. You want to provide enough
safety without overspending. But, no one
can say for certainty exactly where you should have safety gates in your home
without doing a full assessment of your home in person.
Having said that, there are areas that you should
strongly consider candidates for safety gates - even before you bring in the professionals.
Top
and Bottom of the Stairs – This is absolutely crucial
until long after your child scan safely navigate his way up and down the
stairs. And remember, you need a set at
the top – and the bottom – of each stairwell.
The only exception is on a level that your child never accesses. For example, stairs leading down to the
cellar may only need a gate on the ground floor. But, if you take your child down with you,
you’ll still need a gate at the bottom. Keep
in mind that these gates need to be physically attached to the wall. They cannot use the pressure method, or they will
fail when you most need them to work.
Close
the Kitchen – If you have an open plan kitchen and lounge
area, you’ll need to invest in expandable security gates that can truly cover
some ground. This is one area that children
should not have any access to unless they have direct supervision. And, you will probably want to invest in
safety latches and appliance locks even if you have used a safety gate to close
off the kitchen.
In
the Lounge – Okay, you’re more likely to want a secured
play area in the lounge rather than the hassle of closing it off
altogether. But, you do need to make
sure you’ve got a quality product, especially if you plan to move it around or carry
it with you from time to time. Anything less
could be as much of a threat as the dangers already present in your home.
Remember the goal is to avoid being a negative
statistic. You want to ensure that your children
are safe, secure and happy – even if you nod off while sitting on the couch. There’s no price you can put on life, so don’t
take chances; especially when all you need is a few safety gates.
For more tips and information about safety gates and child safety, please visit www.lindam.com
