What can you do in the kitchen and bathroom to make sure your child is safe and your home is secure?
Kitchen
The most dangerous things in the kitchen are cleaners and chemicals, sharp objects, and heat.
- Put safety latches on the lower cabinets, especially where cleaners are stored, as well as drawers that hold sharp items and pantry or closet doors.
- Move dangerous and poisonous items to higher shelves and cabinets.
- Don’t leave the dishwasher open with sharp items at baby height.
- Never leave a hot stove unattended and make sure any pot and pan handles can’t be grabbed and pulled over.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, the biggest risks are water, medications, cleaning products, and water.
- Store hazardous cleaning items as well as any medications up high.
- Use safety latches on lower cabinets.
- Put a safety latch on the toilet seat.
- Use a safety cover on the hot water faucet handle.
- Lower overall hot water in your home so that you don’t risk burns from overly hot water from any tap.
In order to keep small children safe, teach them about the things they need to avoid and how to use the things that they can safely learn to use. But babies are a different story. Until they’re old enough, make sure that they are protected by simple latches and safety measures that work in any household.
