Your home should be a haven for your children — but is it? Show
Whether you’re preparing for your first little one or already have a large brood to take care of, safety is always a concern. We know that ensuring your home is safe can feel daunting and even overwhelming. Childproofing is one of the easiest ways to minimize potential hazards — and two of the most important furnishings to childproof are cabinets and drawers. Let’s take a closer look at some of the methods and products you can use for childproofing your cabinets and drawers. Beginning the Childproofing ProcessWhere should you begin your journey to plug every electrical socket and cushion in every corner?
Editor's Note: Dr. Leah Alexander, MD, FAAP The best way to get a general start is to get down on your hands and knees and look at the world through a child’s eyes. Identify any potential hazards. Go through this process room by room. When you’re down there, you might notice the appeal of drawer and cabinet handles — two of the most common parts of your house to childproof. How To Childproof DrawersAt first glance, you may think the only danger of a drawer is what lies inside. However, drawers and the dressers that hold them have many risks. Your child could potentially:
According to Safe Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing injuries in children, “tip-over” injuries have increased 31% in the last decade, with over 12,000 visits to the emergency room reported (1). How can you childproof your drawers and dressers? Here are six different ideas for you to implement, including a closer look at the many different products and options available. 1. Remove dangerous objectsAs great as locks and guards are, children are wild! The older they get, the weaker your childproof-security system will likely become. The best option is to get rid of dangerous objects in the first place. With children, a dangerous object can mean almost anything, but here are some of the most common household items to remove or place out of reach:
Take all of these objects and any others you think are hazardous, and store them high up. Don’t rely solely on drawer locks. Also, it’s crucial that you store any firearms correctly and out of reach (2). Pro Safety Tip Use plastic Tupperware containers to store smaller objects. Not only will it add one more step between hazardous objects and your child, but it will help keep your drawers organized. 2. Use magnetic locksThe most popular way to childproof drawers is by using a lock. In recent years, magnetic locks have emerged as an effective solution to keeping your kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom drawers securely shut. To use, you install a latch with a strong magnet inside the drawer, which prevents it from being opened. When you place the companion magnet near the drawer, the latch is released, and you’re able to pull the drawer open.
3. Use tension rodsIf you have handles on your drawers instead of knobs, use a tension rod vertically through all the handles to secure all the drawers at once. Tension rods are most often used as curtain rods and come in various styles and sizes. Find one that fits through your handles, and run it all the way down. You’ll want to make sure you get a tension rod with rubber ends. Secure one end underneath the lip of the countertop so your child cannot easily pull the rod out.
4. Use adjustable safety locksDo you want a single-lock system for multiple drawers around your home? We recommend an adjustable lock. These locks have two plastic anchors on either side and a silicone or plastic strip in the middle. You attach one end to the side of the dresser or counter and the other end to the front of the drawer. Then, you pull the strip tight enough to keep the door closed. Just click the button on the door to release the lock.
5. Use latch locksLatch locks are a classic. Latch locks attach near the top of the drawer you are childproofing. They hook securely to the top of a special piece of plastic you attach above the drawer. When the latch catches, you cannot pull the drawers open.
6. Use furniture anchorsThere’s a reason we refer to a dresser as a “chest of drawers.” While you may want to focus on the kitchen, you also need to secure free-standing furniture. If your baby pulls out the drawers, they can use them to climb up. The added weight increases the risk of the furniture tipping over, causing serious injury. Use furniture anchors, also called anti-tip straps, to secure dressers, dressing tables, or shelves. Secure the straps to the wall and the piece of furniture. If the furniture begins to tip over, the straps will prevent it from falling. How To Childproof CabinetsCabinets and cupboards can be scary places when you have children. They’re the gateways to large areas full of fascinating things for your child to get in trouble with. People often use cabinets to house hazardous products. Your child could potentially do any of the following:
Just as with drawers, there are many different ways to childproof your cabinets. 1. Remove dangerous objectsHere are a few objects you may need to remove from your cabinets:
Editor's Note: Dr. Leah Alexander, MD, FAAP You also want to pay attention to non-dangerous products with the potential for trouble. These include:
If you do not have other storage options, there are ways you can make your cabinets more secure. 2. Use sliding locksMany of the locks we’ve already mentioned for drawers can be used on cabinets, including the magnetic lock systems. However, sliding locks were designed primarily with cabinets in mind. A sliding lock goes around two different cabinet knobs or handles. It’s a U-shaped device, similar to a large bike lock. Every model is different, but you generally press on the lock apparatus to pull it off the larger mechanism, freeing you to open the cabinet doors.
3. Use VelcroVelcro is an excellent option for parents who don’t need or want an intense lock system for their cabinets. This ingenious trick starts with Velcro strips, with an adhesive material on one side and Velcro on the other. Open each cabinet door and place the two strips on the inside frame, one on the top and one on the bottom. Then add two more Velcro strips on the inside of the door opposite the others. The Velcro will lock together, preventing small hands and arms from pulling the door open.
Sticky Tip Look for the amount of weight the Velcro is said to hold. The higher the number, the harder it will be to open the door. 4. Use pull cord locksPull cord locks are suitable for cabinets with round knobs placed side-by-side. They’re pretty simple — think of a backpack you pull closed with a cord. To install, place the cord around both knobs. Then, press on one of the attachments and slide it all the way up so the cabinet is secure. You’ll be left with a single, long piece of the cord. To release, press the button and slide it down again to widen the circle.
5. Create foam bumpersChildren can have way too much fun slamming cabinet doors! This is dangerous because no one wants those little fingers bruised or broken from a slammed door. If you have a cabinet you don’t need to lock, but you don’t want your child to slam it, create your own foam bumper. You can do this easily with a hollow pool noodle. Simply cut off a section of a pool noodle and slit one side. Then, wrap the slit around the door, high up where your child can’t reach it. 6. Cover knobsAre the knobs on your cabinet especially large? Prevent bruises and goose eggs on your child’s forehead by covering up the knob with something soft. Tennis balls split on one end are great, as are crocheted covers or soft fabrics attached with a rubber band.
Other Childproofing TipsNow that you’re armed with some essential knowledge on childproofing your cabinets and drawers, it’s time to take your skills to the next level.
Remember That Supervision is EssentialNothing can replace a watchful eye. Always supervise your children in places with potential hazards. As you watch your child, you’ll be able to prevent them from getting into places they shouldn’t be and understand their mindset a little bit better. If things are especially hectic, we suggest you use baby gates and barriers to prevent your child from accessing areas you don’t want them to go. Feedback: Was This Article Helpful? Thank You For Your Feedback! Thank You For Your Feedback! During which of Piaget's stages of sensorimotor development does adaptation first occur?Stage 2. Primary circular reactions (infants between 1 and 4 months). Infants begin to adapt their reflexes as they interact with their environment.
Which example reflects a secondary circular reaction?Secondary Circular Reactions
It typically lasts from about 4 – 8 months. Now babies repeat pleasurable actions that involve objects as well as actions involving their own bodies. An example of this is the infant who shakes the rattle for the pleasure of hearing the sound that it produces.
Which infant is most likely to remember that he or she has previously been able to make a mobile move by kicking his or her legs?Which infant is MOST likely to remember that he or she had previously been able to make a mobile move by kicking his or her legs? An infant who is placed in the same room that he or she was in when the original experience with the mobile took place.
When babies are able to master standing and begin the practice of taking their first steps?Many babies start taking their first steps at around 12 months of age, but your baby may start walking a little earlier or later than this, which is quite normal. Your little one won't just learn to walk from one moment to the next.
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