Childproof Your Home for Less Than $150
Keep Babies and Toddlers Safe with These Inexpensive Products
Jan 1, 2009
Childproofing has become a billion dollar industry, but it doesn’t have to be expensive to keep your child safe. You also don’t have to hire a professional to find the hidden dangers in your home. Take a few minutes to get down on your child’s level to see the world from his perspective. Then use common sense and parenting instincts to purchase a few core products that can help prevent accidents and even death.
Smoke Detector
Few devices keep a family alive more reliably than a smoke detector. Most homes have them regardless of the presence of children, but if you have kids they are truly a necessity. Smoke detectors come in many styles and prices. You can purchase a brand name smoke detector for around $15.
Safety Gates
If you have stairs or any other dangerous area of your home, a child safety gate is a necessity. Most gates use spring-loaded pressure to push against the door jam and stay in place. The strength of the seal varies, so it is important to test the gate to make sure your child cannot break through. Prices vary for safety gates, but a quality, name brand gate runs for around $35.
Cabinet Locks
Cabinet locks come in all different sizes and styles. There are slide latches, magnetic lock devices, and complicated flex-locks. Prices vary widely for these items, but it is possible to purchase a 12-pack of simple child safety catches for less than $5. These latches attach to the inside of cabinet doors and require the user to unhook the latch before the cabinet can be opened.
Outlet Covers
Tiny fingers can find their way into the most dangerous of places, and electrical outlets tend to be right at eye level for little ones. Protect your child from electrocution by installing outlet covers on every outlet in the house. Child Safety sells two packs of 18 outlet covers for $6.
Door Knob Covers
These simple devices attach over door knobs and require adult hands to turn the knob. They come in handy for any room you want to prevent your child from entering such as the garage or the front door. Mommy’s Helper sells a 2-pack of door knob covers for about $3.
Corner Bumpers
Falling down is a part of growing up for toddlers, and any parent can tell you that sharp furniture corners can be a child’s worst enemy. Soft foam corner bumpers for tables and other furniture can help avoid those dreaded “goose eggs” and possible head injury. Kidkusion sells a 4-pack of corner bumpers for $12.
Window Blind Safety Devices
According to a nonprofit group called Parents for Window Blind Safety, a child dies every two weeks from strangulation on window treatment cords. Mericon makes Mericon’s Cord Wraps that keep the dangling cords out of a child’s reach. They sell for $10 for a 12-pack.
Anti-Scald Device
Few areas of the house are as dangerous as the bathroom. Hot water can scald a child in seconds, so it is important that an adult monitor the water temperature at all times. For extra safety, some parents purchase an anti-scald valve to ensure the water temperature never reaches scalding levels. These devices can run as high as $800, but HydroGuard sells a device for $45 that attaches to the faucet and reduces water flow if the temperature reaches 115 degrees or higher.
Depending on the number of each of these items you purchase, you can childproof your home for less than $150. Remember that your child’s safety is not guaranteed with any of these products. Nothing can replace good common sense and attentive parenting.
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