We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Childproofing?

By Deborah Ng
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,566
Share

Childproofing your home means you're making it safe for young children. A very small child doesn't yet know that small items present a choking hazard or an electrical socket can cause a shock. It's up to you to make sure no attractive dangers are available to your young children. Once a child begins to crawl, it's time to begin childproofing.

What are some of the areas in which you should concern yourself when childproofing? Electrical sockets are an important consideration. A young child isn't aware of the hidden danger, only that the small holes in the socket look like great spots in which to poke tiny fingers. Many stores now carry plastic childproofing plugs that can be placed inside electrical sockets to keep out probing fingers. You'll want to purchase one of these for every socket in your home —- no matter where it might be located.

Cabinets are another area that shouldn't be overlooked when childproofing. Unless your lower cabinets yield items like plastic containers or pots and pans, it's imperative you put cabinet locks on the inside. Cabinet locks are easy to use and easy to install. For a young child however, they are difficult to open. Cabinet locks are especially necessary for cabinets that hold chemicals, cleaning products and food. Remember, while food is not toxic, the pieces might be too big and present a choking hazard.

You'll also want to install childproofing oven and toilet seat locks. Believe it or not, a toddler can open an oven or even fall into a toilet! It's best to buy simple plastic locks to keep these items shut.

When childproofing, the best way to find out what your young child can get into is to bring yourself down to her level. Crawl along the floor and make a note of what you see. Are there books she can tear apart or drawers she can open? Are there air conditioning or heating vents where her fingers can get stuck? These are things you'll need to deal with sooner rather than later.

Much to the dismay of the avid collector, childproofing also means putting away, or at least putting up, the knick knacks. Anything that can be pulled down on your child presents a danger. When childproofing, make a thorough sweep of your home and secure any potential hazards. If you're unsure of what to look for, your physician is sure to have literature to guide you along. When it comes to your children, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Kat919 — On May 13, 2012

@EdRick - There are childproofing products that can help with all your problems! Actually, for under your desk, you might not even need specific child items. You need cord covers, the kind that stick to the wall, to contain the cords themselves. Then you need either a wire basket or a special surge protector cover, either of which can be mounted to the wall so baby can't pull it down. Bonus: it is much tidier-looking as well as safer!

For the outlets, you need a box-shaped outlet cover. They are not cheap and kind of a pain to install; you have to remove the outlet plate and you might also need to buy a longer screw. But the cover will then fit over the whole outlet so baby can't unplug anything. (A hinged door allows you to open it up if you need to plug or unplug something.)

And for bookcases, I just pack the books in so tight that baby can't pull them off! I also got safety straps to attack the bookcases to wall studs so baby can't pull them over.

By EdRick — On May 13, 2012

@jonnyjo - Anything nontoxic. You can do some research and shop around online. You are wise to be thinking about "childproofing" in terms of exposure to potentially toxic chemicals as well as physical safety.

I'm finding myself at a bit of a loss about two specific problems with childproofing a home. The first i the tangle of wires under my desk. How do I keep my daughter from pulling on them and unplugging everything?

And the other is, what about outlets that are in use? What's to stop her from pulling out the plug and sticking her fingers or toys into the now-empty socket? What kind of product do I need for that?

Don't even get me started on the bookcases. I've almost resigned myself to just packing up all my books in boxes.

By jonnyjo — On May 12, 2008

what are some paints to use on children's toys?

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-childproofing.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.