Tips for Childproofing Your Apartment

If you’re a new parent, the world around you takes on a new form and can seem both brand new and dangerous to you. As a new parent, you must evaluate the world around you in order to ensure the safest environment for your child. Sharing an apartment home with children is no exception to the rule. Here are some tips to help you examine your apartment and eliminate as many possible hazards as possible for your child.Cover Electrical OutletsIf you’ve recently looked for apartments in Rockwall, TX or any other city, you probably focused your time and energy in finding an apartment that offered a safe and convenient community for you and your family. However, after making your selection among all the Garland apartments, and those in the surrounding area, the very next thing that you will begin to do is to figure out how you can make your apartment home as safe as possible for your child. One of the first and easiest things to do as a new parent is to ensure that your child cannot access electrical wall outlets. Children explore the world around them from a different level than we do. Sometimes we miss possible dangers simply because we’re not looking at them as through the eyes of a child. Electrical outlets are one of these dangers. There are a number of products on the market to cover and make your electrical outlets safe for kids. Some products offer complete pluggable covers that you have to remove when wanting to use that outlet; others offer adapters that can cover the electrical outlet when needed, but also allows a slide feature that permits easy access for adults needing to use that outlet. In addition, make sure that you keep all dangling cords out of the reach of children so they aren’t tempted to tug on the cord. This can help you to avoid accidents. For major appliances, consider getting a lock to keep the child from getting into it. For example, children often think that dryers are a fun place to play. However, this can be a dangerous spot to play hide-and-seek.KitchenThere are many dangers within reach for young children in the kitchen. Remember to be aware of your crawler when you are using the stovetop. Make sure that all handles are turned inward to avoid painful burn experiences. There is a lot of potential danger for a crawler or toddler in the kitchen. Get used to turning all pan handles inward so curious hands can’t reach up to pull scalding food down and use only back burners when you can. There are also protectors and shields created to keep children from reaching things on the stovetop. It is also a good idea to install locks on all cabinets and drawers that a small child can access. Not only does this keep the child from getting to dangerous materials, such as sharp utensils, but it also keeps them getting into any chemicals or cleaning products stored in the kitchen. There are also things in the kitchen that can seem perfectly harmless, but can pose a threat to the overall well-being of your child. Plastic bags, such as Zip-Loc bags, should be kept out of reach as well. They pose a particular suffocation danger for smaller children.BathroomThere are many toxic things that can be accessed in the bathroom. As with in the kitchen, lower level cabinets should be locked and kept out of distance. In addition, medications should always remain in a childproof container. There are also locks available that are designed specifically to keep children from falling into the toilet – or playing in the water for that matter.The Family AreaThe living room is typically the place that the family spends the most time together. Make sure that all plants are out of reach, since many of them are poisonous and their pots are breakable. Keep small knick knacks or other items out of the reach of children. They have a tendency to put things in to their mouth.Doors, windows and stairsAlways make sure that you keep doors and windows locked in order to prevent accidents. If your apartment has stairs, install a child safety gate at the top and the bottom of the stairs so that your child is protected from a falling accident. Keeping your child from dangerous areas in your apartment is the best way to prevent accidents.When childproofing your apartment, you have to think and move like one. The best way to do this is to get on their level. Get down on the floor and crawl around. Anything you can reach or run into your child can too. Having a little one is excited and scary at the same time. You have to be diligent in making your surroundings as safe as possible for your child. U Move Free offers more information on apartment living, or can assist you with your apartment hunting journey.