Why You Should Childproof Your Home

If you do not yet have children or have children who are still in the infant stage of life, you may not understand why childproofing your home is so important. After all, what kinds of dangers could be lurking in your home? You live in a safe place right? Well, you probably do have a well-kept home that suits your safety needs just fine. But consider the needs of your child. A toddler does not understand safety in the same terms as you do. A toddler does not see a hot oven rack and think “Stay away; that will hurt!” Children are curious and will go investigate the things that you and I know are dangerous and could hurt us.

There are many reasons why you should childproof your home and all the reasons go back to the fact that children simply do not know enough yet to distinguish between what is good and safe for them and what is not.

Safeguard your children

The most important reason for why you should childproof your home is to safeguard your children. Everyday things that you and I would not think twice about could be terribly dangerous for children. Such things as chemicals, hot surfaces, electrical outlets, toilets and tubs are all examples of things in your house that could seriously harm your child if they were allowed free access. Childproofing is the process of moving dangerous products up high where a child cannot reach, putting latches on cabinets, toilets and trash bins, and doing anything else that eliminates a potential threat to your child.

Protect your belongings

Childproofing is also important if you are interested in taking care of your belongings. Young children do not understand the meanings of the words, delicate and fragile. They will tear pages from valuable books and drop delicate items simply because they do not know any better. Not protecting your belongings from children is not only going to make you upset when something gets broken or damaged but broken items can also be dangerous for your child.

Avoid a messy situation

Childproofing also helps you to avoid a messy situation. When your child is allowed access to anything in the house, they will find ways to make a mess. Not putting locks on cabinet doors can mean a kitchen floor full of pots, pans, soaps, etc. There are numerous other situations where an un-childproofed area could mean big messes and you can bet that your little one will find ways to make a mess that you could never imagine.

Childproofing your home is not a substitute for teaching your child safety rules or the difference between right and wrong. Childproofing techniques are intended for the period of time when a child is still learning correct safety principles. Obviously it is better for their development to know why certain things are dangerous and not just that certain things will come with childproof covers and latches. You want your child to learn the principles of safety and good behavior that they can take with them and apply at homes other than your own.

Childproofing your home is not only good for your child but for you as a parent as well. Childproofing techniques allow your child to be more mobile and curious. When you childproof certain areas of the home, a child may be able to play in an area that would otherwise be unsafe. This gives mom and dad the peace of mind that certain areas of the house are free from severe danger and all can enjoy being together and having the freedom from worry in those spaces.