How child-proofed is your home?

More than one-third of child injuries and deaths occur at home, according to the National Safety Council. Many parents and caregivers install baby gates, toilet locks and other child-proofing measures, but they often aren’t aware of some of the biggest dangers still lurking around the home.

Dr. Antoinette Sallamme, a pediatrician at Advocate Children’s Hospital, outlines four household dangers and the child-proofing steps you can take to protect your child:

1. Unanchored furniture

From dressers to full-length mirrors, furniture can fall on a child and lead to serious injury or death when climbed on, pulled or played with. Many pieces of furniture come with their own mounting kit, which you should install as soon as you bring the furniture into your home. Check throughout your house for any furniture that is not yet anchored and get everything secured as soon as possible.

2. Small batteries

You may not realize that some of the most common household items contain lithium, or “button”/“coin” batteries, including key fobs and garage door openers. Take inventory of what items have these batteries and keep them out of reach of children of all ages. When ingested, button batteries come into contact with saliva and lead to a chemical reaction that causes severe internal burns and requires immediate medical attention.

3. Window coverings

Children can become wrapped up in the cords of blinds and drapes, and strangulation can occur in a matter of seconds. Remove all corded blinds and drapes within the home and replace them with cordless alternatives to fully remove the risk.

4. Dangerous substances

The dangers of leaving medications and cleaning supplies within a child’s reach are commonly talked about, but many people don’t realize things like cooking spices and chemicals in the garage or shed can cause injury or death and should be secured out of reach. If a child inhales a spice like cinnamon, it can travel to the lungs and lead to inflammation and asphyxiation.

Certain chemicals some people use outside or in the garage also pose a large risk, including motor oil, gasoline, fertilizer or pool supplies such as chlorine. Store all of these in cabinets or shelves far out of reach of children.

Take action now

By child-proofing your home, you can ensure a safer environment, allowing you to better focus on precious moments with your little one.

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