Babyproofing your Home

Parents these days are getting busier by the minute, which means they can’t keep up with their children at all times. Different kinds of babyproofing products address this concern as they promise to make the child’s environment a safer place to live in, especially during that split second when you happen to turn away.

Trina Decena, a preschool teacher at Assumption College says, “Safety products give parents peace of mind whenever they have to leave their kids wandering around the house.” But even though there are a number of safety products in the market today, there really is no 100 percent guarantee that these items will keep danger at bay. Ritz Bernardo, Safety 1st brand manager in the Philippines, says that parents should turn to reliable brand names when looking for safety products. Michelle Concepcion-Reyes, entrepreneur and mom of three, adds, “It should be reputable and ISO certified.”

Below are some of the ways childproofing products can keep your child safe:

Stair gates
The danger: Any loose parts used to put up the gate or hold it together can easily break, get dismantled or detached, which can lead to a nasty falls or even choking. Gates have been known to cause strangulation, especially those with diamond-shaped openings, or the V-shapes on the top edge.
Safe and sound: Wooden baby gates should have rounded corners instead of sharp squared edges; but experts say that it’s best to use plastic non-accordion gates (latch-ons and lift-and-lock gates) instead of wood to avoid splinters. A gate with vertical slats might be a better alternative to ones with horizontal slats as children can easily climb over the latter. The spaces must be no larger than two inches so that babies will not get their heads stuck in between the slats or insert their foot on the bottom rail.

Socket guards and appliance covers
The danger: A faulty socket guard or appliance cover can cause harm if it comes loose, especially if it’s small enough to be ingested. Although they are the cheapest and easiest covers to install, frequent switching from an outlet plug to an electrical cord may cause you to misplace the plug, leaving behind a choking hazard. A safety net can also come loose or get caught up inside a fan if it’s defective or handled incorrectly.
Safe and sound: Replace faulty covers as they tend to come loose over time. Concepcion-Reyes says, “I came upon this fan that has a screen inside which blocks the blade of the fan. Some mothers have screens made to cover the fans but this one is built-in for further protection.”

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Table edge and corner guards
The danger: These furniture guards can come off easily if they are not the right fit or if the adhesive backing does not stay in place. Also, instead of keeping your child away from sharp corners, he may be more attracted towards it if it comes in different colors or designs.
Safe and sound: Before installing edge guards that come by the roll, measure your furniture carefully to make sure that the size is appropriate for your desk or table. Although some are sold without adhesive, corner guards that come with sticky tape are better so as to keep them in place. “My corner guards kept sliding off the table until I found out I didn’t use the adhesive that came with the package to stick them on to the corners,” shares Suzette Wenceslao, dermatologist, and mom to Bianca, 1.

Bath seats
The danger: There have been several reports of drowning because of bath seats tipping over, the child slipping or climbing out of it, and entrapment in the leg openings. Bath seats with older designs (which feature suction cups and larger leg holes) can tip over or allow a baby to slide underwater, even with a parent close by. Many have said that these products should actually not be considered as safety devices to begin with since they do not guarantee a safe environment for the child, especially when left unsupervised.
Safe and sound: Get something sturdy and well made, so it won’t tip off easily, and replace it as soon as it has become damaged or worn out. It should be the proper fit for your child, and should not have any rough edges that might scrape your baby’s skin. Above all, never leave the baby in the bath by himself or even with an older child. Do not use a bath seat or ring if your baby is still unable to sit up on his own, and once he can already pull himself up to a standing position. 

Photo from flickr.com