Childproofing Your Home

Did you know that every year, there are more than 3,000,000 unintentional injuries to children 14 and under that happen in the home and require care in an emergency room?

That is equal to 8,219 injuries per day. Sadly, each day approximately six children die from injuries resulting from fires, burns, drownings, poisonings, choking, suffocation, strangulation and falls in the home.

Curious Kids

Young children are curious and don’t always understand what is dangerous. Have you asked yourself how your kids see your home? What looks interesting, and what can be reached? Drawers left open can easily turn into stairs to the TV!

Limitations and Abilities

Understanding your child’s limitations and abilities is crucial. For babies 3 months and older, provide a safe sleep environment and protect them from falls and burns.

Babies who can sit and crawl are also at risk of choking, poisoning, burns, falls and furniture tip-overs. Once your little one becomes mobile and begins to cruise around, childproofing becomes even more important.

Supervision and Modifications

While constant supervision is the most important safety precaution you can take, it’s sometimes not enough or possible. To create a safer home for your child, look for potential hazards and take steps to remove them before it’s too late.

Outlet plugs, cabinet and drawer locks, window stops, window guards, furniture straps and brackets, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and stair gates are some of the low-cost safety devices you’ll need to get started.

Help your little ones explore their surroundings safely, knowing you have reduced the chances of serious injury.

Home Safety Checklists