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Child proofing
generally involves making sure the child’s environment is safe by reducing risks for injury. Childproofing may also include restricting children to certain areas, or preventing them from reaching certain areas by use of safety gates. Studies have shown that more children between the ages of one and four are more likely to be injured or killed by drowning, fire, burns, poisoning or choking than by violence from a stranger. This alone shows how vital it is to child proof your home. There are things you can do to child proof the nursery and your home before your baby even comes home from the hospital. There are other safety measures for when your baby begins to crawl, and later as they begin walking and climbing. Also, there is special child-resistant packaging, called C-R Packaging, that is made to reduce the risk of children ingesting dangerous items. It’s required by law for certain prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, pesticides and other household cleaners and chemicals.
Most parents do the child proofing of their home by themselves, although a professional childproofer can be hired to come in and install safety devices. If doing it yourself, one of the best things to do is to get down on your hands and knees to take a look at things from your child’s point of view. This way, you may see things otherwise missed. Look for small items that your child might pick up and put in their mouth that could be a choking hazard. Cover electrical outlets with outlet covers. DO NOT use the ones with removable caps as a baby can remove those and put them in their mouths. Instead, use outlet covers that include a sliding safety latch. Use door stops to prevent doors being closed on small hands and fingers. Safety latches are also available for cabinet doors, but even so, first remove any cleaners, pesticides, etc., that your child might put into their mouths. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water. Install safety latches on toilets, and never leave your child unattended in a bathtub. Never leave a bucket of water in or around the home. If you use a bucket of water for mopping and other cleaning, be sure to empty it as soon as you’re finished. Safety gates are considered by parents to be one of the primary child proofing tools, therefore we have a special section devoted entirely to safety gates.
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