Child-Proofing: Making your home safe for your child.

Childproofing is simply the act of making an environment hazard for a child. we can childproof our homes from fire,access to water, chemical access, electricity and lots more, Parents overlook the need to child proof their homes without realising that the home can also be a threat to the safety of their child. Children between the ages of 1- 5 are usually very accident prone so it is the duty of the parents to ensure that the child does not come in contact with anything that can endanger him/her.  About 2.3 million children are accidentally injured every year and more than 2,500 are killed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's why it's so important to carefully childproof your home. Most of these measures are inexpensive and might very well save your life and that of your child.

KITCHEN

The kitchen being one of the busiest and most often used space in a home, can also one of the most dangerous areas of the house. it is a place where we store a lot of sharp objects like knives, fork, matches, corkscrews, breakable objects like glass, ceramic and more and if left within the reach of children, can/ will cause serious injury to our little ones who. We all know how babies like to touch and move things around or put strange objects in their mouth because they do not know better, it is your job as a parent to keep an eye out for them but our eyes cant be everywhere at all times. Which is why its advisable to put some safety measures in place.
With the amount of dangers lurking around every corner in the kitchen, here are some simple steps for you to baby proof your kitchen.

• Keep all glass bottles, china, and all other breakable things to higher shelves, out of children's reach. All kitchen cabinets, drawers, and appliances should be installed with safety latches
• Move cleaning materials,plastic bags, chemicals, and other small choking hazard.to a high cabinet
• Store knives and other sharp tools, such as food-processor blades, in latched drawers or high cabinets. Peelers, graters, and other kitchen utensils can be sharp and should be treated just like knives.
• Move toaster, blender,electric kettle and all other electrical appliances out of the children's reach. Unplug them and hide the cords when they're not in use.
• Don't put grapes, balloons, coins, or other choking hazards on low surfaces.
• Never leave  hot food and beverages to cool. A curious child can easily knock it over resulting in serious scalding. Also, never carry your child in one arm and a hot drink in the other, not even for a few moments.
• Use a latch to prevent your child from opening the ovens/ refrigerators, Install range knob covers or locks, and dishwashers. 
• Do not leave anything hanging over the edge of the cabinets like towels, electrical cords, pan handles, anything. These can be pulled on by a child, bringing everything down on top of the baby.
  
  

BATHROOM
Because of all the water activities that go on in a bathroom, anyone can be prone to having an accident in there, talk less of a baby. From slippery floors to electric outlets to bathroom chemicals, there are a lot of precautions to be taken in this space so ,here are some steps to prevent our children from becoming victims of the hazards.

•  The first thing to do should be to install a lock on the outside of the door,the one that only adults can easily open, so your child can't get in without you and always ensure the door stays closed so the child doesn't crawl in.
• Always ensure that the toilet lid is down or you can install a toilet lock to prevent your baby from lifting the cover. If a baby falls in head first, he/she can drown.
• Put razors, scissors, nail clippers, tweezers, and other sharp utensils in a locked cabinet out of your baby's reach.
•  Set the water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). A lower water temperature helps ensure safe bath by reducing the chance of scalding 
• Unplug your blow-dryer, curling iron, and any other appliances that create heat, and put them away after each use to prevent burns or electrocution.
• Keep all cosmetics,toiletries and medications — including prescription drugs, antacids, aspirin, e.t.c in a high cabinet.
• Use a non-slip rubber mat in and outside the bath tub on the floor next to the door to prevent children from slipping and falling. 
• Make sure all electrical outlets near the sink or tub are protected and nothing is plugged in near the sink or bathtub.
  

Living Room

• A breakable, glass-topped coffee table is not a good idea in a home with young children for obvious reasons. Kids also have been known to pull over tall furniture, especially bookcases. Furniture is even more dangerous if it sits partially on a rug, or the floor is uneven. Anchor unstable furniture to the wall
• Keep window blind and drapery cords out of reach by wrapping them around a high hook. They're a strangulation hazard
• Work to replace or eliminate corners in your living room,instead of a coffee table that has sharp edges, you can trade it for Ottomans
• Remove choking hazards, life threatening objects and breakables from the reach of the child, if possible ensure they are kept in closed cupboards. 
• Ensure to keep your stair areas gated.