As we enter the winter months it is inevitable that we will spend more time indoors. Now is a good time to reconsider the baby proof features in your home, says Steve van Wyk from Seeff Centurion.
He offers some helpful tips to parents:
- First and foremost it remains essential to cover and enclose all swimming pools and water features outside even if you aren’t planning to spend any time outdoors during the colder months. An accident only takes a couple of seconds to happen. Also watch out for puddles around your home after heavy rains as a child can drown in very little water.
- Ensure that all gates from your garden to the road are secured with locks and place the key in a place where children can’t reach it.
- Move furniture away from windows as children can climb on furniture to give them access to an open window from which they can fall.
- Install safety gates at the bottom and at the top of all staircases.
- Cover all electrical sockets
- Lock all cleaning products, pesticides, medicine, choking hazards etc. away
- Git rid of any blinds or curtains with looped cords as this can pose a risk for hanging
- If your child has just started walking consider covering hard surfaces such as wooden floors or tiles with soft sponge mats from toy stores. This can be removed once they are more comfortable on their feet
- Print out basic CPR information and emergency numbers and place it somewhere easily accessible to find in case of emergency.
- Cover sharp furniture edges with safety padding available at toy stores
- Cover your fireplace with screens
- Place non slip pads under rugs and loose carpets