No one ever said parenting was easy, and keeping your children safe and sound at home is a top priority for all parents. Even if your child is older, there are still many dangers lurking around the house that you need to be aware of.
Parents need to be alert if they want to ensure the safety of their children. But with all the caring for your children and home, you might not have the optimal energy levels to stay awake all day. So you should prepare some coffee, but not just any coffee. Going instant should be okay, but nothing can beat the flavor from a cold brew pot, especially if you don’t like drinking anything hot in the morning. Apart from keeping your energy level up throughout the day, here are other tips to make sure your child stays safe while at home.
Always make sure the vacuum cleaner is unplugged before cleaning
Never use it around children because if they brush up against the vacuum hoses, their clothing can get caught and suffocate them. If you have older appliances in your home with exposed cords, tape them down so they will not be easily accessible to your child. This includes lamps, telephones, or anything else that could pose a danger to your child.
If you have to go somewhere for a couple of minutes where your child will not be able to see you, then always put up a baby gate or tie your child to something to keep them safe while you are gone. This will prevent your child from wandering into potential danger zones in the house.
Set specific rules about what is okay and what is not okay for your child to touch or do while at home
For instance, if there are any dangerous chemicals in the house, keep them locked up so that your child will never get their hands on them. On the other hand, if you have an indoor trampoline, then under no circumstances should your child be allowed to use it, even if they begged for hours.
Do not allow your child to play in the street or leave the house unattended
This is an essential rule that most parents forget about when they are busy watching their kids. Children playing in the streets has been a problem since the beginning of time, which is why law enforcement has designated certain times when children are allowed outside.
As long as you follow these rules, your child should always be safe and sound while at home. However, suppose you do not follow the rules or think your child will be all right left alone for a little. In that case, there are many dangers associated with keeping your child at home while unsupervised.
Avoid using extension cords for longer than 10 feet
If you are running an electrical appliance that needs to be plugged in, use the shortest cord possible so your child cannot reach it. If this is not possible, make sure to secure it so it will not come unplugged and cause a fire without anyone knowing.
Avoid using metal blinds
These blinds are both dangerous because of their sharp edges, which can cause cuts or gouges. The children can also climb on them and fall from a great distance. Instead, use plastic or wooden blinds, which are much safer and will not pose a threat to your child in any way.
Never use curtain rods for hanging bathroom towels
Children can climb them and fall from a high place, resulting in death or severe injury. Use the towel holder instead so there will be no risk of your child getting hurt.
Also, do not use any cords that hang out near the ceiling, like curtain rods for anything other than curtains. This is a common problem because many parents will just let it go and not realize a severe accident is waiting to happen. A simple solution would be to tie them up or have them hidden away so that children cannot do anything stupid.
Keep all matches or lighters out of reach and sight of your child
This would include candles, matchbooks, cigarette lighters, and any other item that can be used to start a fire. When you go outside to turn the gas off on the grill, make sure to take all matches or lighters with you so your child can’t use them.
Be aware of potential hazards when using electrical appliances and do not let children near them
This includes running hair dryers, hair straighteners, curling irons, and any other appliance that has moving parts that could be very dangerous if your child tried to touch them. If you feel like there is a time when your child needs to use one of these appliances, then make sure it has an automatic shut-off feature so they cannot start it up by accident.
Following these safety tips for your home will help to ensure that your child is safe and sound while you are away.
