Remodeling For Baby

Babies, toddlers and small children are at risk in the home from several different major hazards - falls, poisonings, fires electrocution, burns and drowning are the biggest threats - but a few fairly easy to implement changes around the home can decrease these risks significantly.

Stairs are a common injury site for babies and toddlers. Until little ones are old enough to navigate the stairs by themselves child safety gates should be installed at all times but there are precautions to be taken once baby becomes a toddler as well.

Ensure that handrails are solid on both inside and outside stairs. Have existing rails tightened or consider having new ones installed if the rails are worn. Make sure staircases and stairwells are well lit. It's a good idea to have a light switch both at the top and the bottom of a stairwell. Ideally these switches should be placed low enough that a child can reach it because if they can't the temptation will be to find something to climb on to reach the switch, increasing their chances of a fall.

Another danger is loose fitting stair carpet or carpet stair treads that slip easily. Make sure all the steps along stairways - indoor or out - are not chipped, cracked or broken and that any floor coverings are well secured.

The best way to prevent accidental poisonings is to keep all the potentially toxic materials in a secure, childproof cabinet. This not only includes cleaning and gardening products that we all associate with being dangerous but all medications as well, even the Tylenol.

Too many children are injured every year by being scalded by hot water in their own home. What may seem like a nice "warm" water temperature to your adult skin may scald a baby or toddler. Turn hot water heaters down to 120 to 130 degrees to minimize the risk of scalding and make sure that they are serviced regularly to keep them functioning properly.

When it comes to electricity all child level electrical sockets should be childproofed. Instead of relying on those plastic socket covers (which many toddlers pull out quite easily) consult with an electrician about having tamper proof outlets installed. This is a more expensive solution but the sockets have been so successful at preventing child injury that as of 2008 the National Electrical Code requires them to be installed in all new homes.

Ursula K Rose

Renovation Experts USA

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