When your little one becomes mobile, it is important to make some changes around your house to keep him safe. By taking the time to carefully review every room in your home, you can negate common hazards and make your Toronto property a safe haven for infants and toddlers.

Evaluate What are the Necessary Baby Renovations

An immediate step to take when renovating your Toronto home for a baby is to consider how your child sees the world. Explore each room on hands and knees to get a crawling infant’s perspective. Look carefully to find areas of interest such as accessible light sockets, cords within easy reach or cabinets that beg to be opened. Remember that your child’s top priority is to explore the world. Every nook and cranny will hold a new adventure for him.

Once you have an idea of necessary home renovations, get to work. Purchase plastic covers for light sockets that are within reach of your baby. Buy cabinet locks to install in the kitchen and bathrooms. Tie up electrical cords to keep them safely out of reach of your little one. Measure doorways and stairways for gates to install in order to create a safe area where you can set your child down for a few minutes and block off areas you do not want your baby to access without full supervision. .

Baby Gates

When selecting gates for your home, keep in mind that they come in three forms, pressure mounted, those that screw into the wall and freestanding. While pressure mounted and freestanding gates are a great option for most spaces, always choose a gate that hardware mounts directly to the wall for the top of the stairs. These gates provide the highest level of safety because, when correctly installed, they will not slip out of place or fall accidentally.

As your child moves from crawling to walking, additional measures should be taken to keep your Toronto home safe. Renovate rooms by adding door knob guards so bathrooms, pantries, laundry rooms and other unsafe areas are not easily accessible. Consider placing garbage cans in a closed off area, and move cleaning supplies, pest control products and medications to higher cabinets that are out of reach for little hands. Any unstable furniture, including bookshelves, television cabinets, heavy desks and dressers, should be securely mounted to the wall. Remember that your toddler will use these things for balance and security while cruising from room to room, so it is important to ensure they will not move or fall.

Water & Fire Hazards

A toddling young one also faces risks of burns or drowning when a home is not properly baby proofed. Purchase covers that make it difficult to turn stove burners on, lock your oven when it is in use and keep items that could be stacked for climbing out of the kitchen. In the bathroom, prevent drowning by making sure the bathtub is not accessible without adult supervision, and consider installing a latch on your toilet too. Set your hot water heater no higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding when your little one is in the tub.

While protecting your child indoors is important, Toronto home renovations for child safety extend out of the house too. If you have a deck, make sure to install a gate to keep your child safe when playing outside. Keep garden tools, gasoline, oil and pest preventatives safely out of reach by installing shelving and hangers in the garage or other area where you child will never be left unsupervised. Carefully consider you landscaping to ensure that any poisonous plants are removed or kept in areas your toddler will not access. For pool or hot tub owners, properly installed safety fencing is a necessity. There are many gates available, and several of them offer additional protection by including an alarm that sounds if the fenced area is accessed.

Watching your child grow and explore the world is enjoyable, but it is important to take precautions in order to keep your youngster safe. Always consider your child’s point of view when renovating your Toronto home, and correctly use valuable baby proofing products to protect your little one. By doing this, you will create a safer, more relaxed and comfortable home for the entire family.