Moving into a new home is exciting, especially for families with children. If you are preparing to settle into a new house with an infant or toddler, consider reviewing these tips to keep your home safe.
The best way to prevent accidents in your new home is to plan ahead. Child safety is constantly improving, and you can make sure your home is safe in a few simple steps.
Child safety gates are an essential component to any house with a staircase. Using these portable mini-fences to block access to the top and bottom of staircases can prevent accidents and falls. Plus, you can use baby gates to keep little ones away from high traffic areas which may lead to open doors or the kitchen during meal preparation time.
Household features with corners such as countertops and tables can present head-bumping hazards. You can remove potential problems by covering furniture corners with temporary foam padding. Another option is to round off the countertops, making the edges less sharp.
Windows can attract curious youngsters and should be prepped for safety by first making sure all dangling cords from blinds are wrapped up and secured out of reach. Also, locks which allow windows to open just slightly (no more than an inch) to let in fresh air can be installed.
If you’re moving into a new construction home in St. Louis built by Rolwes Company, you can rest assured that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors will be installed and tested long before you arrive. To enhance your peace of mind, consider using baby sleep monitors and a home surveillance system (linked to your smartphone) to keep ears and eyes on your little ones at all times.
Furniture taller than a couple feet can be of potential concern, especially if your kids are climbers. This is easily handled by securing cabinets, shelves, dressers and bookcases to the walls with removable wall brackets and straps.
This is perhaps the most important room in the house for child safety. Consider observing a standing rule that no objects of any sort are to reside near the edge of a table or countertop. All sharp objects, breakable items, cleaners, medications and food should be stored in cabinets which are secured shut with childproof latches.
Access to the bathrooms in the home should also be prohibited by habitually closing doors so that very young children can not access toilets or bathtubs. In addition, outside the home, any items which can collect even a few inches of rainwater such as frisbees and buckets should be stored in the garage.
Enjoying a new home with young children is all about planning ahead. Rolwes Company can help bring you peace of mind by making your new home safe for children. Contact us to learn more about the communities we build in and how we can help make your new home safe for your children from the start.
