Baby proofing Grandma’s house

For kids spending time with their grandparents is great. They get extra attention and are often spoiled. But grandma’s house is not hazard free for toddlers, it probably contains similar safety hazards that your house contains, and may contain others such as more prescription medicine around the house. If your child spends a lot of time at grandma’s then you may want to consider a full-blown baby proofing effort, but if they are just visiting for a short time, less intrusive or temporary measures can be taken.

Grandparents often have to be educated about baby-proofing products that did exist not 20 or 30 years ago, and may be resistant to installing devices which they may deem to be inconvenient. But  most grandparents will  understand your desire to make their home safer for their precious grand-kids, and a lot of the products can be disabled when the grand kids are gone.

Checklist for baby proofing grandma’s house for a short visit:

• Move cleaning supplies and chemicals in any room out of reach. Product: XL Clean Guard
• Make sure medicine is moved out of reach and locked up. Product: Medi Guard 
• Move breakable knick-knacks, glasses, etc. out of reach
• Make sure exposed electrical cords and window blind cords are secured or removed
• Move small kitchen countertop appliances, knives, etc. out of reach
• Make sure they have the phone number for Poison Control if needed: 800-222-1222
• Cover open electrical outlets with outlet caps. Product : Outlet Protectors
• Move sharp cornered coffee tables or other furnishings out of the way

Checklist for more thorough baby-proofing of Grandma’s:

• Install a Safety Gate at stairways, decks, or other problem areas. There are gates which can be easily removed when not needed.
• Use a Door Top Lock to keep kids out of troubling rooms such as a bathroom. These have a on and off position for when not needed.
• Install cabinet latches at cabinet doors and drawers which contain hazardous items. Some locks can be disabled when the grandkids are gone.
• Cover up exposed plugged-in outlets and power strips with baby proof covers.
• Install hearth guard padding on the sharp edges of raised fireplace hearths.
• Install cushioning at sharp edged furniture such as at coffee tables.
• Install window locks so that windows cannot be opened more than 4 inches to prevent falls.
• Install door locks on entrance and exit doors so that the child cannot escape to the outside.
• Secure TV’s and large furniture to eliminate tip-over accidents.

This is just a small sampling of potential hazards in a particular home. There are babyproofing professionals in most urban areas who can evaluate your home for you if desired.  They can also install products for you, but most can be installed by yourself with little difficulty.

Choosing the Right Car Seat

“According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3-6 and 8-14″. So choosing your childs “Car Seat” is very important.  And then using it properly after you get it home is imperative.

All 50 states have laws requiring the use of a car seat, and all car seats manufactured today must meet safety standards set by the Federal Government.

Below we have compiled a list of tips to help you with your car seat to help keep your little ones safe:

• Always put your car seat in the back seat.
• Your car seat should not be able to move more than 1 inch once installed in the car. ( If you buy a seat that  moves more than 1 inch in any direction – return it and get one that  fits your car better).
• Always anchor the car seat/booster seat with the seat belt in the car – using the directions provided by the car seat manufacturer.
• NEVER put a car seat/booster seat where there is an airbag.
• remember when storing your car seat – do not store in a location that will expose it to extreme temperatures. This may cause damaged not visible to the naked eye.

Kidsafe offers some wonderful travel products that add to the comfort and safety of your child when traveling in a car.

Remember to always buckle up – now get out there and hit the road, the adventures awaiting you and your kids are endless!

Best Wishes, from the staff at Kidsafe!