5 Helpful Home Maintenance Tips to Help You Child Proof Your Home

If you’re a new parent, it’s no secret that you’ve got a lot of responsibility when it comes to ensuring your child’s safety. The first place you’ll need to start is with the home. Your house is loaded with potentially dangerous situations, but there are a few simple home improvement changes you can make to make your home more secure for your young one.

1.  Cover Everything

It stands to reason that you’ll want to cover up dangerous stuff, but you’ll only discover exactly how many things require guards of some sort once you start doing some serious investigating. You’ll need child-proof covers for all outlets, window netting or guards to prevent falls from windows, light fixture shields, and protective material for hot things like radiators and hot pipes.

2. Protective Tools

There are several home maintenance items you can purchase that will safeguard you and your children from potential injury. Applying anchors to TVs and heavy appliances, for instance, will prevent them from tipping over when handled by curious toddlers, and safety gates should be set up at the tops of stairs. It’d also be wise to put edge bumpers on any reachable sharp corners such as a hearth or a coffee table.

3. Double-Check Alarms

A new arrival is a good opportunity to check all the alarms in your house. Make sure you have smoke alarms on every house level, and change their batteries on an annual basis. Also, install CO alarms in any areas where the child is sleeping.

4. Move Things Away from Curious Hands

Dangerous chemicals and medications need to be locked away, but it’s also important to make sure that plastic bags, candles, lighters, and matches are well out of reach. If there are any small toys that could be considered choking hazards, don’t ever leave them lying around unsupervised.

5. Consider Water Safety

Water can be very dangerous. If you have a pool or spa, having adequate fencing around it is an important home maintenance addition. Make sure whatever fence you install is at least 4 feet high, and has self-closing and latching gates.

Child-proofing may seem like a challenge, but it only requires a few relatively simple and inexpensive changes. If you need help with child-proofing — or any other home maintenance improvements — don’t hesitate to call the professionals at Handyman Connection in Boise, ID, today!