There are several steps to consider when attempting to child proof the toddler’s room. Check on a regular basis that your intercom system is working properly. If your unit is a remote with batteries, make sure the batteries are still dependable. Better brands have lights alerting you to battery conditions. I wonder how our parents made do without these little handy items.
By the time you are reading this you have probably already purchased all of your nursery furniture. As with other pieces of equipment you purchase for your child, look for that certified seal of the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association. This gives you some indication that the product has been tested to meet certain levels of safety.
Starting to Child Proof the Toddler’s Room
What we do find in toddlers’ bedrooms are dressers that have drawers that pull all the way out! This is like a believe-it-or- not story; this furniture is actually one of the more expensive, widely used, children’s furniture brands; made for children’s rooms and use! It is a good example of how we can all learn by testing your child’s toys and equipment yourself. It is your standards that count most.
You have the final responsibility to your child to supply the safest products possible. As your child proof plan begins, it is important that cribs be placed away from window and wall hangings. How important? Since our last publication three months ago, a two year old boy in Wellington, Florida was pronounced dead at his home as a result of hanging from a window cord in his bedroom.
Kmart Children’s Decorative Lamps
Kmart children’s decorative lamps pose a potential fire hazard. Kmart recalled 280,000 electric wooden lamps (sold from January 1993 through March 2000) because a short circuit poses a fire hazard. There have been eight fires, two with property damage. Return the lamps to Kmart for a refund (video clip, streaming format) (transcript).
When a crib is placed against a wall and lowered to the bottom adjustment, there is probably an electrical outlet within easy reach. If there is something plugged-in here, it is particularly important to have an in-use electrical cover box in use. He has a lot of time here to experiment with anything within reach. After all, he has played with all those same old crib toys for days now and it is time for some excitement.
By the time your child is standing, it is time to think about removing the bumper pads that are no longer needed. Adjust the mattress to its lowest point; hanging toys should be removed; stuffed animals to a minimum; anything that can be used for climbing removed.
In most homes, a toddler spends less time in his nursery (other than sleeping) than any other room in the home. Still, cover all electrical outlets as in other rooms and be sure that you have in-use electrical plug cover boxes in place where necessary. Later on, a video monitor might come in real handy for your “independent” toddler playing in his room.
Once both of you have outgrown the changing table, be sure to remove all the powders, diapers, creams, etc. from the lower shelves. Nice place for stuffed animals until you finally move it out or have another baby if that’s in your future plans.
Night lights come in a whole variety of shapes and figures. The type that plugs directly into an outlet is the most common. Unfortunately, most outlets are at head height for a crawling baby, providing for quite an attraction of lights and colors while being easily within reach for investigation. Install a brand of night light that cannot be removed from the outlet except with a screw driver. It should cover the other outlet as well because a young child will be attracted to it more than other outlets. The steps to child proof outlets should never be ignored.
There is not a reason for a locking knob on a child’s door, except to cause you aggravation. Remove the knob and replace it with a non-locking variety. This will save you problems down the road when he locks you out accidentally (or on purpose; age two in action). You can argue about privacy with your child when he has reached an age to govern his surroundings more.
Door bumpers made to be placed right on the door will keep him from closing the door all the way and eliminate possibly smashing a few fingers in the process.
If you have full wall closets with bi-fold doors you may wish to have brass bar latches installed to keep little fingers from being smashed and to keep him out for a few years. This type of closet makes great storage for toys if you organize it properly with shelves, separate area for clothes, etc. It will give you a few years of selecting how many toys come out at once and is considerably more convenient than digging in a toy chest. Higher shelves make great spots for seldom used items that tend to be accumulated, i.e. vaporizers, etc.
