Even if you don’t have children, that doesn’t mean your home is always kid-free. If you’re having company over during the holidays, the odds are pretty good that one of your guests will be bringing their young ones along. While you don’t have to completely redo your house to keep it safe for younger kids, there’s a few tips you might want to keep in mind to help make your home safer and more hospitable for little ones – and give their parents some peace of mind:
Scope Out The Area
When it comes time to make your home safer for kids or babies, the most important thing is to think like a child. What do you have that sits low enough that might catch their eye and sits within reach? Where would you go if you had to crawl everywhere? Take a look below you and make sure there’s nothing they could easily reach, grab, pull, or otherwise dislocate that could hurt them, damage your stuff, or both. This is going to include things stationed on the floor like coffee tables, large furniture installations like TV stands, or even low-placed wall shelves that could be within reach of your child’s hands.
Move Everything Up
Once you’ve figured out what needs moved or secured, now’s the time to act. Go around and lock up any cabinets you don’t need anyone getting into, and maybe get some new wire shelving to help keep items off the floor or out of reach of any curious hands. This goes for anything you might have low to the ground such as adult beverages, computer or TV equipment, medications, and more. It doesn’t have to be moved into the attic, just kept up high from little prying hands.
Pay Attention to the Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the areas that needs the most attention when it comes time to childproof your home thanks to all the beauty tools and medications you could keep in there. Try to keep your medication in childproof containers and either up high or behind a locked cabinet door. Make sure any grooming supplies like razors, scissors, hair dryers, and the like are kept unplugged and out of the way to avoid injury.
Don’t Forget the Kitchen
After the bathroom, the kitchen may be the area of the house that needs the most help when it comes to childproofing. Much like your medications, make sure all cleaning supplies are securely closed and locked up or kept high out of reach. If you have to use any insect catching supplies, try to discontinue their use while your guests are over. And, sadly, you might want to put away all the novelty fridge magnets you’ve collected while on vacation – these can very easily fall off and create a choking hazard.
Don’t worry, these changes are just temporary and as soon as Christmas is over you can put your audio equipment and hair dryers right back where they were – but for the time being, these tips should help keep your home safe for your smaller guests!