Child Safety

HESTIA helps concerned parents make a safe haven for their children. Call us today for a free child-proofing consultation - (847)660-4454.

introduction to childproofing your home

Childproofing creates a safe environment in which your child can play and explore, and it also provides you with some peace of mind. Fortunately for parents, there are home safety products on the market to address almost every hazard within the home: cabinet locks, baby gates, electrical outlet covers, toilet locks, hearth pads, corner protectors, and many others.

To enable a child to explore without compromising safety, parents should childproof their homes by the time their child is crawling. Most homes are not designed with small children in mind and, consequently, expose children to many hazards in their daily life. All homes have common hazard areas such as stairs, bathrooms, laundry rooms, electrical outlets and kitchens. In addition, the distinct features of your home can pose a safety risk for children. Some examples include: fireplaces, stair and deck railings, laundry chutes, and low windows.

The goal of childproofing your home is not to turn your home into a prison-like setting that completely inhibits a child‘s ability to explore and develop. Rather, childproofing should balance such factors as safety, aesthetics, cost, child supervision level, and livability.

Of course the hazards a child is exposed to will vary with their stages of development. A passive three month old is exposed to many less hazards than an active eighteen month old. The following is a list of potential hazards based on age:

Up to four months:

• Falls from furniture
• Bathing accidents
• Choking on food
• Crib suffocation

Between five and seven months:

• Falls from stairs
• Electrical shocks
• Poisoning
• Choking on small objects
• Water accidents

Between eight and twelve months:

• All the above
• Climbing dressers and bookcases which can topple
• Bumping into the corners of furniture or countertops
• Gaining access to hazards in cabinets
• Grabbing items such as a stove kettle which can burn

Between one year and two years:

• All the above
• Access to restricted areas such as basements, garages, swimming pools, decks/balconies, and driveways.

For details call HESTIA Enterprises at (847)660-4454 or send an email to info@hestia-enterprises.com.

links

Center for Health, Environment & Justice
www.childproofing.org
About: Parenting & Toddlers
http://babyparenting.about.com/od/healthandsafety/a/babyproofing.htm