How To Protect Your Infant, Toddler and Child with an Easy Home Safety Checklist
Sadly, the passing of Mike Tyson’s young daughter has brought to the forefront home safety issues. Home can be one of the most dangerous places for a small child or infant and it is of major concern to safety and health officials. By following a few simple steps you can help to eliminate commonly overlooked areas in your home and increase your comfort and your family’s safety.
USED BABY FURNITURE - It is not just a sales gimmick crafted by the baby furniture industry to part you with your money. Used baby furniture may save you money but cost you injuries or even a baby’s life. A good rule is no furniture later than 1978.
1. The first step in insuring the safety of your infant is to check with the manufacturer or online to be certain that the item has not been recalled.
2. Obtain current guidelines for measurement such as distance between side rail bars. Currently they are 2 3/8 inches apart, with no large cut-outs on head and foot boards.
3. Is the paint loose or chipping and most of all child safe and lead free?
4. Cedar chests or toy chests should have hinge support to prevent the lid from slamming down on little fingers or heads.
Choosing solid wood handcrafted furniture protects your investment and your child. Solid hardwoods withstand generations of children and their teething episodes.
KITCHEN -
1. Kitchen chairs and stools should be positioned far enough away from stoves that if a toddler mounted them they could not reach hot burners or pots.
2. Have you put child locks on your pantries and custom made cupboards or cabinets?
3. Move all knives and sharp objects farther back in the drawers and cabinets.
LIVINGROOM -
1. Move all glass objects to the back of your Amish built tables. A heavy vase, object d’art or picture frame can be a deadly weapon when it’s pulled down on to a curious child’s head.
2. Cable all window shades cords and electrical cords up and away.
3. Be sure your big plasma or HDTV television is securely mounted to your custom built television stand or entertainment center. Home injuries to children have increased by a record 41% because of oversized televisions.
4. Are your bookcases secured? Solid wood bookcases are well built and steady but on carpet or uneven flooring an accident can happen. Simple wall brackets can secure any cabinet or book case.
5. Have you applied protective padding or rubber corners to your solid wood living room tables? The corners are sharp and can cause injury to a small child.
6. Have you protected your child from entering your fireplace area? Whether electric, wood or gas it is an obvious area that should never given easy access to.
BATHROOMS -
1. Amish crafted corner cabinets and bookcases make beautiful and functional bathroom furnishings to store prescriptions and toiletries in. Be sure to secure these items to prevent ingestion by a child. This includes prescriptions, mouthwashes, hair sprays, perfumes, etc.
HOME OFFICE -
1. Check for cords, whether from electrical or telephones. It is wise to unplug when not in use and wind up those cords. Dangling cords attract and easily go from playful toy to noose.
OUTDOOR FURNITURE-
1. Check for splinters that may have occurred with use and changes in the wood. While Amish outdoor furniture is finished by hand regular care and maintenance will prevent accidents.
GUN CABINETS -
1. Amish craftsmen build handsome gun cabinets complete with locking features. Remember -KEEP THE KEY HIDDEN AND AMMUNITION STORED SEPERATELY
Tags: Amish Furniture Styles, Baby Furniture, Bookcases, gun cabinets, home accidents, home safety, Interior Decorating, Interior Design, Mike Tyson, Storage, Tables
