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It's incredible how much a warm and welcoming home can suddenly seem like a house of horrors once there's a small, mobile child on the scene. Everything from a roaring fire to a relaxing window seat becomes a source of peril, and the kitchen is fraught with danger at every turn. The risks are even more elevated once tiny tots can get up on their own two feet, so toddler-proofing shouldn't be left until they're already up and exploring. Ready to take action? Click through this gallery to find out how to kiddie-proof your home.
Electrical outlets can pose a real danger to curious babies and toddlers. Ensure they don't stick fingers or objects into the socket by fitting child-proof covers on each and every outlet in the home.
Toddlers love to climb stairs, and that can be a great adventure—as long as they're accompanied. Installing well-fitting stair gates will ensure they don't take a tumble down the steps while you're not looking.
Putting a gate at the top of the stairs seems obvious, but don't neglect to protect the bottom end, too. A toddler can easily get into danger on the stairs, so you need to make sure there's no access either end.
Many apparently harmless objects can pose a grave danger to babies and toddlers. Play it safe by installing child locks on cabinets, cupboards, refrigerators, and appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines.
Free-standing TVs, framed pictures, shelving units, and cabinets are all well and good, unless there's a small human rampaging around! Secure them to the wall to eliminate the risk of a toddler or crawling baby knocking them down and injuring themselves.
Don't cut corners when it comes to child safety! Prevent little ones from injuring themselves on the sharp edges of tables by fitting soft corner protectors.
Babies and small children love nothing more than picking up objects and putting them in their mouths. Make sure you pick up and pack away seemingly-harmless items such as marbles, as they could easily be a choking hazard.
Make sure items such as jewelry are well out of reach of little hands, too. Collect necklaces, earrings, and other such items, and store them in a locked drawer or box.
It might be second nature to put down your wine glass on a table, but that would create a triple threat: a curious child could break the glass, spill the wine, or (much worse!) drink it. Stick to unbreakable glasses, don't leave them within reach of little hands, and keep all bottles safely stored away.
Even if it's switched off, an iron is a danger. It will still be hot if you've used it recently, and the cord poses a strangulation hazard. Get the iron safely out of the way the second you're not using it, and keep babies and toddlers at a distance while you're ironing.
Babies and toddlers see furniture as a climbing challenge. Keep furniture well away from windows, to prevent little adventurers using it as a way to get up to the window sill and at risk of falling out.
A lock, window gate, or guard is important to prevent children falling or climbing out. But whatever system you use, make sure they can be easily opened in the event of a fire.
Cords from curtains and blinds can be a strangulation risk. Where possible, choose cordless window coverings, or keep the cords tied up high and well out of reach of babies and small children.
There's no denying the appeal of a roaring fire, but it's a clear danger for babies and young children. Make sure you fit a child-proof screen or fire gate, keep fire irons out of reach, and ensure the fireplace and chimney are inspected regularly.
Kitchen fires are both dangerous and alarmingly common. Keep everybody safe by having a fire extinguisher on hand. And never leave a pan unattended. Make sure you also have fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors fitted throughout the house, and that they work.
The kitchen is a perilous place once babies and toddlers are on the scene. Toddlers love to keep the adults company in here, so be sure cook on the back burners to reduce the risk of injury.
Ovens are usually within easy reach of little arms. Fit a childproof oven lock and a child-proof cover to prevent toddlers turning on gas burners.
Get into the habit of turning handles away when cooking. Combined with using the back burners, this should keep them out of a child's reach.
Induction cookers are usually equipped with child locks to ensure little ones can't turn them on. Make sure this is activated, and don't let a child near a still-hot induction plate.
Colorful fridge magnets might look cute, but be careful: remove any that might be small enough to swallow and choke on.
If you are having young guests stay over, or are staying in someone else's house with small kids, make sure it's safe, with no danger from windows, electricals, or anything else.
Don't leave kitchen knives and utensils out on display. Keep everything out of harm's way in a drawer with a child lock.
Cleaning products can pose multiple dangers for babies and toddlers. Make sure they are kept in a safe, locked place, and don't turn your back on a child when cleaning products are around.
Empty the bathtub as soon as you've used it. Small children love to play with water, and it's a major drowning risk.
Even a toilet can pose a drowning risk. And not only that, but small children love to play around with stuffing things into toilets. Keep the lid closed with a child lock to prevent a hefty plumber bill, or worse!
Don't leave medications anywhere a child could reach them. Move all pills, lotions, and potions to a locked medicine cabinet or other safe place.
The crib that kept baby safe can pose a danger once they're standing. Before the child is tall enough to climb over the side, remove or significantly lower the guard rail to prevent a fall, or move them to a bed.
Items that seem cute for a tiny baby can be dangerous once the child is mobile. Make sure pictures are firmly mounted on the walls, use a grip pad beneath rugs, and remove lamps with cables as well as furniture that the child could climb onto and fall off.
Make sure doors to the yard are kept locked, and always empty and upturn kiddie pools when not in use.
Make sure pools, ponds, and other water features are enclosed. And never leave small children unattended near the water!
Sources: (Verywell Family) (What to Expect)
See also: The things you never imagined you would miss before having kids
How to child-proof your home
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LIFESTYLE Toddlers
It's incredible how much a warm and welcoming home can suddenly seem like a house of horrors once there's a small, mobile child on the scene. Everything from a roaring fire to a relaxing window seat becomes a source of peril, and the kitchen is fraught with danger at every turn. The risks are even more elevated once tiny tots can get up on their own two feet, so toddler-proofing shouldn't be left until they're already up and exploring. Ready to take action? Click through this gallery to find out how to kiddie-proof your home.