Consider childproofing your home for the holidays if you are having young visitors over. If you have small children of your own, you probably have childproofed it already. But if additional children will be visiting or staying with you, you may want to go over your home again and make sure every thing is safe.
1. How to Prevent Furniture Tip-Over Injuries
Be aware that furniture tip-overs are one of the leading causes of injury and involve children 7 years or younger. Most tip over injuries involve TV sets falling over and hurting children.
You should avoid placing TV sets on top of anything except furniture specially designed to hold them. With young children around, you should also avoid placing candy or any other attractive object on TV stands or even on top of TV sets. Remotes should not be placed on top of TV sets either. Keep them hidden if you want to keep them out of children's reach.
2. Brackets and Straps for Furniture Tip Over Prevention
If you are wondering what products you might use to help prevent furniture tip-overs, you may want to take a look here.
Simple straps and brackets help alleviate furniture tip-over danger to some degree. Since they are installed in the back, you don't have to worry about unsightliness when seen from the front.
3. Holiday Safety Tips
It is a good idea to go over your home and make things safe for every one including children and the elderly.
Pay special attention to electric outlets and cords. Use ornaments that are not fragile or easily breakable or that present choking hazards. Hang string lighting and place candles where little hands won't be able to reach.
Poisonous plants should also be kept out of reach, as younger children can be especially fond of putting things in their mouths.
4. Childproofing Window Shades and Blinds
Window shades and blinds can present a danger to young children. The cords can pose a serious strangulation hazard. While you may not be able to change your window treatments, you can instantly make them safer by installing tension devices on cords or fastening them to the wall or floor.
Another thing to remember is to position children's beds or cribs away from windows.5. Indoor Safety Tips for Your Home
Since many preventable furniture related accidents often take place inside a home, you should take a look around the house. One of the best things you can do is to put away any furniture that wobbles, or is coming apart.
It is a good idea to go over bunk bed safety rules with visiting youngsters, and to never allow children younger than 5 on the top bunk.
Placing furniture away from heat sources makes it safer for everyone inside the home, not just the children. Furniture that is too close to fireplaces or space heaters can be a fire hazard.
