When a baby is on the way, there’s a lot to think about and a lot to prepare for. This also includes childproofing the apartment. Numerous accidents still occur in the home that could have been avoided. In this article, you will learn everything about security.
1. When should an apartment be childproofed?
The ideal time to baby-proof your four walls is as soon as the baby arrives. There is still enough time until the birth so that the different protective measures can be evaluated and implemented as you wish.
At the latest when the child begins to roll over and makes the first attempts to move, it is advisable to secure the apartment immediately. Ideally, the various measures should have already been completed at this point.
2. What should be insured?
In every family there is a certain potential for danger. As a result, there is much that should be protected.
– Stairs: Stairs are certainly one of the biggest danger points in the home.
Two protective gates, one at the top and one at the bottom of the stairs, ensure sufficient safety.
As soon as the child has acquired motor skills, it is necessary to repeatedly practice climbing the stairs with parents’ hands.
– Balcony/window: Special locks are available for balconies and windows that prevent children from opening them themselves. It is also advisable to remove cords from shutters and curtains. It is also best to keep anything that could be used by children as a climbing aid out of reach.
– Doors: Door stops are a valuable help in this case. This means that it is no longer possible for little ones to get their fingers stuck.
– Sockets: For this purpose, special fuses for sockets are available in retail stores. These come with a rotating mechanism and fit easily into sockets. It is not possible for children to remove this block.
– Furniture edges: Furniture edges can cause serious head injuries. For this reason it is absolutely advisable to pad them or protect them with corner protectors.
– Flock: An unprotected stove is a huge source of danger. The child can burn himself on the stove or in the oven and throw down hot pans. A stove can help here
grill and, on the other, a special oven lock. This means that the little one is unable to reach the stove or turn the knobs. Thanks to the oven’s child lock, it is no longer possible to open the oven. This not only prevents the child from getting burned by the internal heat, but also prevents the door from giving way when someone tries to pull it up and the child from falling.
– Cabinets/drawers: Special locks are also offered in retail stores for this purpose. You can also choose between different variants that work, for example, with the help of magnets or which can be attached with a special adhesive.
Danger: You should also remember to close the freezer and refrigerator doors tightly, because children love opening them too.
– Electrical appliances: It is best to simply place these devices high up and out of the child’s reach. It is also recommended to remove all plugs from the outlet if the devices are not currently in use.
– Children’s bed: As soon as your child becomes a little more agile, it is advisable to remove all music boxes, cell phones, etc. from his cot.
It is also generally advisable not to bring too many toys to bed. This makes you want to play rather than sleep. If it is an adjustable crib, then it should be set to the lowest level when the child starts to get up from the railing.
However, if the little one tries to climb over it, it is advisable to remove some bars. This means that the little one can get out of bed independently and will not injure themselves trying to climb over the bars.
– Shelves/drawers/sideboards and low sideboards: With this furniture there is always the risk that the child will try to pull himself up. Often the drawers are also opened to climb onto the chest of drawers, for example. The drawers can be easily attached as above. It is better to fix the furniture to the wall. In many cases, shelves and the like are already supplied with tip-over protection. Otherwise it is also possible to purchase them and install them later.
– Bath tub: As soon as the little ones can enter the large tub, it is advisable to place a special non-slip mat there. Since children generally love playing in water and getting up while doing so, a mat like this reduces not only the risk of falls, but also the risk of injury.
–Manicure/Pedicure: Items such as nail files, scissors and the like should definitely be kept out of the reach of children. It is best to store these items in a lockable bathroom cabinet. Of course, the key should also be removed here, because children learn quickly and will soon be able to turn the key to open the cupboard.
– Cleaning products: The same goes for cleaning products. It is also best to store them in a locked cabinet with the key removed. The potential for danger is enormous because, for example, many cleaning products contain toxic substances.
– Fireplace: Although the blazing fire of a fireplace offers pleasant warmth and a huge sense of well-being, it also carries a high risk of injury. It is therefore absolutely advisable to protect it with a chimney guard. This means that the fireplace can be used normally and the child will still not get hurt. Of course, in addition to protective measures, you should also explain to your child what is hidden behind the gate and why it is better for the child to stay away.
– Spiegel: It is best to attach a mirror to the wall using dowels and screws; therefore it cannot fall, but remains suspended safely and firmly. Alternatively, there are also simply glued mirror films.
-television: Modern flat-screen televisions tend to tip over quickly, creating a high risk of injury. For example, it’s a good idea to hang the TV on the wall or adjust it using a cord.
– Hi-Fi system: The hi-fi system with its many different buttons, interesting speakers, etc. it holds immense fascination for most children. Accordingly, it is better to place them at an inaccessible height or create a barrier. Alternatively, you can also use a box for other purposes and simply place it around the system.
– Trip hazards: If there are too many toys around, they become a tripping hazard that can lead to a fall. It also hurts a lot when you step on Lego bricks, Playmobil figures or something similar. That’s why it’s always best to clean it up immediately after playing.
Suggestion: Young people can help clean even at an early age. In this way the little ones learn that things need to be kept in order.
– Darkness: As soon as the little ones are a little older, they love to crawl out of bed at night, for example to go to mum and dad or to the bathroom. A so-called night light helps ensure that little ones don’t bump into anything or fall into the darkness. It is a small darkened lamp that is simply plugged into a socket and is usually decorated with very beautiful designs. Despite the little light, it is possible to sleep well and at the same time adequately see whether the child gets up at night.
3. Conclusion
There are many dangers in a house, but you can easily solve them. Taking precautions in time minimizes the risk of injury.
However, even in a safe apartment, you should always keep an eye on your children: the little ones are fast, curious and always have new ideas. But if you keep your eyes open you can avoid many accidents.
It is also advisable to teach children early on what they can and cannot do. For example, if you don’t want the little ones to lift themselves up on the shelf, gently but firmly move them away from the furniture with a clear «no». This procedure must be repeated several times, but eventually the children understand that they simply cannot climb there. This not only ensures greater safety at home, but also when traveling.
If you need further advice and suggestions for furnishing a children’s bedroom, we invite you to read our article on the subject “Children’s room: when should you start fixing it?”.
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