KidCo, maker of high-quality line of baby gates, baby proofing and travel products, has put together important tips in honor of baby safety month.
Where to Start
Dan Kaiser from KidCo recommends starting with baby gates. KidCo launched the first metal child safety gates to the US market nearly 30 years ago, setting a new standard of safety and style for baby safety. The company’s line of safety gates will cover all areas from the top of stairs, high traffic or large areas, and even fireplaces. The basic recommended age of use with most gates is up to 24 months. If you know that you need a gate, but don’t know where to start, KidCo has a gate finder that is helpful.
In the Kitchen
We start with the kitchen because so many people feel that it’s the heart of their home. This space is one of the more challenging to baby proof since there are so many areas that need to be considered.
Most people move into a home and put cleaning supplies and chemicals in the bottom cabinet under the sink. Families with small children should opt for keep detergents, pesticides, cleaning products, and any other toxic household chemicals locked up, preferably in a high cabinet. Remember that child-resistant doesn't mean childproof. Some children are very good at breaking in and opening products in the blink of an eye!
Be sure to secure cabinets and drawers. A simple solution to keeping little ones out of cabinets. These Sliding Cabinet & Drawer Locks attach easily and fit snuggly around cabinet knobs or handles. No screws or adhesive mount necessary, and this system is good for handles or knobs that are 2” – 7” apart.
Use the back burners on the stove whenever possible and if you must use the front ones, turn the pot handles toward the back. If your knobs are at the front of the stove, Stove Knob Covers provide protection from little ones turning stove knobs. These knobs offer non-adhesive installation and are easily removable for cleaning.
Kitchen cabinet drawers, which are often at the height of a toddler’s head, are another hazard. Cabinets and drawers should all be secured with internal locking devices because external locks that need to be put back in place after each use are often forgotten. These Adhesive Mount Cabinet & Drawer Locks are designed to keep cabinets and drawers off limits to little hands. Adhesive mount means no holes, no drilling, no tools, and easy installation. Going on trip with the little ones? Install the in your rental home or cottage.
The Family Room
The family room might be doing double and triple duty as a home office, school study space, and playroom. Be sure to put electronics out of reach of children can reduce the risk of kids getting hurt or damaging expensive equipment. When setting up electronics, ensure that all wires are no longer than six inches. Consider wrapping them with electrical tape or Velcro ties. Use an outlet cover box to avoid exposed outlets should something come unplugged. Be sure to keep charging plugs out of reach. Universal outlet covers work on both standard and decorator style outlets and does not require that you remove it every time you actually want to use the plug.
You never know when little fingers will touch your keyboard or mouse. Very young children have become extremely adept at finding YouTube and watching their favorite videos. Putting a password on to your computer is the easiest way to ensure your child does not “edit” any documents or visit any unsafe sites. You may want to put your tablet in child safe mode if you haven’t done that already!
Secure TVs or Furniture to the Wall with anti-tip furniture straps. Fall hazards are one of the most common, and most deadly, dangers for children inside the home. Bookcases can be extremely dangerous if not secured to a wall. New or moved furniture (i.e. a television) should be anchored to avoid tipping.
Multitasking
Many working parents are now taking on tasks that had been done with an army of babysitters, day care centers, and cleaning crews. Now so much of this has stopped, the ability to multitask has been put to new levels of efficiency and often frustration. Some of the best tips that we’ve also found from parents is to try and stress less and set new expectations under these new conditions. Parents have found ways to cope with a variety of products and tips that range from baby carriers to activity seats.
Keep little ones happy, safe, and occupied in an activity seat. The GoPod Plus Activity Seat is one of our favorite products that helps you with multitasking chores, exercise, or helping older children with schoolwork and their needs. Travel products can be repurposed for keeping kids occupied and are often easy to open and close for storage. The KidCo TravelPod is a portable play yard that provides a safe and comfortable environment for children between the ages of birth and three years. It can be set-up easily in any room of your home which has been turned into a home office.
Parents and caregivers have many responsibilities. Keeping baby safe and healthy is a top priority. With a bit of planning and patience, your home can be made safe and sound.
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