Assess for Hazards – Install Baby-Proofing Products
Assess Your Home
For Hazards
Break Your Project Into Actionable Steps
- Create a Plan
- Read About Risk and How To Address It
- Survey Your Home For Hazards
- Group Types of Hazards
- Purchase Quality Products
- Install Products for Each Hazard
Educate Yourself: Read material focused on hazard identification and risk management. It helps with product selection.
Plan of Action: Add your product installation to your home calendar. Plan on a 3-4 week schedule. Failure is not an option so don’t bite off more than you can chew. Break it into pieces.
Action – Begin the work: If you have the ability and tools to do the installations yourself – fabulous. If you do not have the skills to install baby gates, window limiters, cabinet latches, door limiters and furniture anchoring – Now is not the time to be proud – hire a pro – your baby’s safety is in your hands- get it done.
Hazard Reduction Products
- Baby-Gates
- Furniture Anchoring: i.e.dressers, shelves
- Magnetic Cabinet Latches
- Door Limiters, latches and door bolts
- Window Limiters
Miscellaneous Products to Reduce Risk.
The hardest part about completing anything, including a childproofing project, is starting. Get your iphone, tablet, or laptop out. Create a document. Title it Home Assessment. Separate each area or room and begin a very detailed walkthrough listing every possible thing that could be a hazard. If you list some very basic and well known hazards for each room you can count them all up at the end of your assessment. This will make it easy to plan on the number of safety products you’ll need to purchase.
Getting referrals for the various safety products can make the task of vetting the numerous selections available on sites like Amazon or TikTok.
Some Major Areas of Focus
Stairs and Bannisters
Assess: We assess where baby gates are needed and bannisters and railings.
Discuss: We talk about types of gates and installation process.
Door Limiting Devices
Assess: We discuss door limiting devices and best locations to reduce risk.
Discuss: We’ll go over brands, styles and strengths and weaknesses.
Window Limiting Devices
Assess: We look at your window design and locations.
Discuss: There are many things to consider including the safety of the product, how it will look on your window, and which products can function properly on your specific window design.
Furniture
Assess: We assess which furniture i should be anchored and the reasoning behind our selection.
Discuss: We discuss types of anchoring and how it can be conducted aesthetically and effectively.
Storage Units
Assess: We assess which storage unit, such as drawers or cabinets, should have a child resistant latch to protect babies from known hazards.
Discuss: We discuss the pros and cons of various latch designs and how they may apply to specific storage units.
Miscellaneous Dangers
Assess: We will point out and discuss water hazards, dangerous edges, fire hazards, gun safety, vape pens/ e-cigs, electric connections and miscellaneous hazards.
Discuss: We’ll discuss methods to address identified hazards.