You’ve got your stair gates, covered your plug sockets and put locks on your cupboard doors, but you may be missing some seriously dangerous items in your childproofing mission…

It’s  both a joyful and stressful time when your child starts walking. They want to explore everything for the very first time and a whole new level of caution and protection is needed, as well as eyes in the back of your head!

Here, we’ve put together some items you should add to your childproofing checklist and how you can prevent them from being a hazard.

Window Blind Cords

Loose cords and strings from window blinds could be a serious risk to young children.  It’s instinct for them to pull anything that dangle, so be sure to keep them hidden away.

What you can do:

• Never leave a cord dangling anywhere.
• Tie the cord up and out of reach.
• Pull all cribs, changing tables and chairs away from windows with blinds.
• Install a cordless window blind or invest in a roller shade.

Unsecured Dresser Drawers and Bookcases

Toddlers see open drawers and bookcases as a mountain to climb up! But, if these are top heavy or not secured to the wall, they could easily fall if pulled.

What you can do:

• Keep drawers on dressers firmly closed.
• Store heavy items in bottom drawers to prevent it being top-heavy.
• Install brackets to stop the furniture coming away from the wall.

Glass Tables

Sharp edges of any table can be dangerous, but glass tables pose a specific risk because it’s harder to see the end. Glass is a lot heavier too, and if broken could cause serious harm.

What you can do:

• Purchase edge guards for any sharp edges.
• Ensure your glass is made from non-tempered glass. This means if it breaks it will shatter into tiny pieces rather than large chunks. Contact the manufacturer if you’re unsure and you may be able to swap the glass.

Storage Chests and Boxes

Storage chests, blanket boxes, and toy trunks are all a perfect hiding place during hide and seek. But, children could get their hands and fingers trapped while they are trying to climb in or out.

What you can do:

• Keep boxes full so children can’t get into them.
• Try to get boxes that have a ‘soft close’ rather than the ones that slam shut.

Stand Up Mirrors

Long mirrors mounted on a swivel frame may seem harmless, but children might not realise the main part swings up and down. If they lean or swing on it, they may end up hurting themselves or getting stuck between the mirror and the frame.

What you can do:

• It’s probably best to take the mirror off the frame and mount it onto a wall or on the inside of a wardrobe.

Free Standing TV’s

Just like tall, heavy furniture, televisions on top of stands can just as easily fall if knocked, especially the new, lightweight flat-screen models.

What you can do:

• Consider wall mounting your TV or keeping it on a lower, stronger base.
• Keep remote controls and any toys away from the TV so children won’t be tempted to play near it.

Recently Used Hairdryers

Most hairdryers can reach very high heats and take a while to cool down after use. This can be dangerous to children as it could burn their sensitive skin. Leaving hairdryers around with dangling cables or plugged into walls can also be a hazard.

What you can do:

• Keep electrical items such as hairdryers and heated rollers out of reach of children.
• After use, unplug the item straight away and place them out of reach.

Unsecured Toilet Lids

We’re all aware of the risk of pools and baths full of water, but what many people don’t realise that toilets can also present a drowning risk. Children are interested in everything, so they may put their head into a toilet to see what’s inside and end up falling in head-first.

What you can do:

• Invest in a plastic safety cover or a childproof clip for toilets that prevent children from falling in.
• Install a high latch on the outside of the bathroom door so you can lock it whenever it’s not being used.

Unlocked Dishwashers

A closed dishwasher may look safe from the outside, but if a child managed to open it there are plenty of sharp knives and dishwasher detergent they can get their hands on which can be very harmful.

What you can do:

• Attach a latch to the dishwasher door so children are unable to get inside.
• After pouring detergent into the machine, ensure the dispenser is tightly shut and out of reach of children.

Loose Plastic Bags

We all have that one cupboard that’s full of plastic bags! But, if it’s within reach of children it can be very dangerous and cause a choking or suffocation hazard.

What you can do:

• Keep plastic bags, sandwich bags, rubbish bags, and reusable bags out of reach of children.
• Place a cupboard latch on your ‘bag cupboard’ so children cannot get to them.

It may feel like a minefield, but just a few small precautions can lower the risk of dangers to your little treasures! Child safety kits are available to get you started and there are plenty of things you can do to prevent risks, without having to watch them 24/7!

If you’ve got any more tips, comment below or share them on our Facebook page.

Tags: Child Proofing, Household Safety