Make your home child-safe, room-to-room

If you haven’t done it already, it would be good to do so as your child grows and becomes more mobile and curious about the world around them!

Bedrooms

1. Install child safety latches on all drawers and cupboards so your child doesn’t accidentally pull the entire dresser onto him or herself.
2. Make sure all cords and wires are safely wound up or tucked away behind heavy furniture out of your child’s reach.
3. Move all electrical devices such as lamps and breakable items out of reach of your little ones’ hands.
4. Cover all unused power points with cover plugs.
5. Tip: Leave one small cupboard that is specially for your child so they will learn to only use this.

Bathroom

1. Install a lid latch on the toilet lid to stop your child from playing with it and accidentally falling into the toilet bowl.
2. Disable or provide safety covers on all locks on the inside of the bathroom doors so that your child will not lock himself or herself in by accident. A creative and cheap way is to use masking tape.
3. If you are bathing your child in a long bath, fix a spout cover on the faucet in case your child hits his or her head on it.
4. Keep all medications and poisonous products locked up or out of reach.
5. Better yet, keep the toilet and bathroom doors shut so your curious one can’t wonder in.
6. Keep the water heater level at no higher then 48℃ to avoid burning your child’s sensitive skin.
7. Cover all unused power points with cover plugs.

Living room and family room areas

1. Tie up and tuck away all loose curtain, window drapes and blind strings so your child can’t get entangled in them.
2. Install child safety gates on all sliding door, entrances and exits of your rooms wherever possible to prevent your child from dashing out.
3. Sharp edges on furniture, countertops and tabletops should be installed with corner cushions.
4. Move breakable, dangerous or small objects away from your child’s reach.
5. Remove or keep houseplants out of reach, the vase of pot can be harmful. why?
6. Look out for loose or broken parts in your child’s toys.
7. Cover all unused power points with cover plugs.
8. Tip: Create a child safe area that is especially for them!

Kitchen and dining area

1. Keep all harmful and poisonous supplies including cleaning and dishwashing supplies, and heavy or breakable things in high and unreachable cabinets. In fact, lock them away in a safe area.
2. Install easily available safety latches on all lower cupboards and drawers. Avoid leaving sharp kitchen utensils and cutlery on kitchen counters and tabletops where they can easily fall onto the floor or are within easy reach.
3. Cover all unused power points with cover plugs.
4. Better still, have a child safety gate installed at the entrance of your kitchen.

Stairways

1. Install child safety gates at the top and bottom of your staircases. Try to make sure a professional installs it, as children tend to lean hard or try to climb over these gates.
2. Don’t depend on gates alone to keep your child safe and the best prevention is to keep watch over your child.

We know that it is impossible to do all of this 100% of the time and hence we hope our suggestions will help you in those times that you take your eyes of your curious little critter.

A healthy balance

When you decide to go back to work, it is only natural that you will miss your little one. With a little planning, you will sail through your first separation. From explaining to your child to trusting a babysitter, take a look at how you can manage leaving your child in emotional and practical terms.

Being a mum means giving lots of tender loving care. Don’t forget that sometimes, you need a little attention too. Don’t ignore your need for a bit of “me” time. It’s your special moment when you can think about yourself.

You deserve it!