Childproof The Home
First time adoptive parents need to child proof their homes in order to bring their newly adopted children into a safe environment. There may be sharp corners, unshielded electrical outlets, unlocked cabinets filled with household cleaners and other hazards that will need to be removed before the child comes home.
The U.S. Consumer and Safety Division Commission gives twelve suggestions to child proofing your home:
- Use safety latches and locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries.
- Use safety gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas.
- Use door knob covers and door locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers.
- Use anti-scald devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.
- Use smoke detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires.
- Use window guards and safety netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings.
- Use corner and edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces.
- Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution.
- Use a carbon monoxide (CO) detector outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning.
- Cut window blind cords; use safety tassels and inner cord stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops.
- Use door stops and door holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands.
- Use a cordless phone to make it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas.
Check out websites such as www.childsafetystore.com, www.onestepahead.com, www.123safe.com and www.safehomeproducts.com to see what kind of items parents need to purchase to safeguard their home for their newly adopted little ones.