By Seven Weaver Producer
Consumer Reports
Babies—so cute. But once they start to crawl, there are dangers everywhere. Moms know potential hazards need to be addressed for little ones. The most dangerous rooms in home are the kitchen and the bathroom.Consumer Reports
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Stumble It!The author of Consumer Reports’ Guide to Childproofing and Safety, Jamie Schaefer-Wilson, says the kitchen stove deserves special attention. Children are tempted by the knobs, and want to turn them on. The easiest thing you can do is to just remove them, but you can also put knob covers on. Stoves can tip over, so be sure to use anti-tip brackets. And turn all pot handles away from the edge, so little hands can’t reach them.
An open dishwasher can be dangerous for small children, too—even when it’s empty. So keep it closed at all times.
As for the bathroom, most of the problems can be taken care of pretty easily. First of all, cover the spout so that your child isn’t at risk of banging his head. Most importantly, keep your baby in arm’s reach. Never turn away for anything. Baby bath seats have been linked to an average of nine drownings a year, so never use one. Another tip? Don’t use a sponge because your child could suck on it and break pieces off, making it a choking hazard.
Another tip for the two most dangerous rooms of the house: Keep all potentially poisonous items, such as cleaners and medications, locked up high where a child can’t reach, and use a childproof latch or lock. Even items that seem harmless—like mouthwash—are dangerous if ingested in large quantities. So keep those out of a small child’s reach as well.
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