Bringing home baby ...

Baby Proofing Kitchens

Author: Mark Preston

Every parent wants to protect their children and many go to extreme lengths in order to make their home “baby-proof”. Kitchens are quite often the most difficult part of the home to baby proof as there are just so many things in the room that could pose potential hazards to children and babies.

The main issue here for many parents, especially those with their first child, is that babies tend to learn very quickly within their first year of life. Because of this, it can seem that one minute there is a tiny baby squirming around on the floor and now there is a little toddler crawling all over the home.

Kitchens pose many threats to children as previously mentioned. For instance, the cooker is one of the main appliances in the home that can cause a danger. Of course it is obvious that when turned on the oven can cause nasty burns to anyone that accidentally touches it in the wrong place. However, when a baby comes across it, it may seem like something extremely interesting ready to be investigated! This is quite often why, if the correct measures are not taken to protect babies in kitchens, there can be quite a number of nasty accidents.

Many home stores and supermarkets sell a lot of different items that allow people to proof their homes in order to protect their children from any accidents. One of the largest selling products at the moment is drawer clips. These clips work by blocking the drawer and only allowing it to open halfway with a catch that any adult can use to open it fully. By using these, babies and children would not be able to open the drawers in lounges and kitchens and therefore avoid any potential hazards such as knives and other sharp items.

Some people’s do pose more of a threat than others; however this can be kept under control easily with the correct measures put into place. Things such as the aforementioned drawer clips and stoppers and other items that can be purchased such as baby gates etc. are a great help for people that are looking to start baby proofing kitchens and any other rooms in their home. It is vitally important to anyone to keep their kitchens safe and things such as the stairways that can cause a threat to their children when wandering around and exploring!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/baby-proofing-kitchens-3840989.html

About the Author

Kitchens and baby proofed appliances!

http://www.kitchenfinesse.co.uk/

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    how can i baby-proof cabinets that were built in the 70′s?
    i have a 13 month old and he gets into everything so we’re trying to baby proof. but our house was built some time ago, and the cabinets just slide left to riight and are wooden. they have little holes to open them with but thats pretty much it. i’m not sure how to keep this closed to what child proofing tool could be used here. ALSO our living room has a huge gap, and i cant seem to find a baby gate long enough to stretch, its probably 10+ feet wide. please any ideas??

    • ANSWER:
      Well, first of all, the first answer was kind of mean :)

      I think you should get some velcro and use it on the back of the “sliders” to stop it from sliding easily. Or you could get some eye hooks (like the ones some people use on screen doors).

      As far as the gates, we have the same problem and I think we are going to get those really long ones. I don’t think we have many options!

      Here is what I’m talking about for both …

      http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FBK/C9TM/G1XBJ9IJ/FBKC9TMG1XBJ9IJ.MEDIUM.jpg

      http://www.safebeginnings.com/webcomponents/catalog/images/2901-d.jpg

      http://trusca.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRUCA1-5677584dt.jpg

      http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fireplacevillage.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/child_pet_firplace_safety_gates.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fireplacevillage.net/blog/index.php/tag/wood-stove-accessories-nh/&usg=__cH1iX0U2TPF4lpWWc0YhBypUBfI=&h=220&w=220&sz=9&hl=en&start=52&itbs=1&tbnid=y2brY5SD3wZqgM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dextended%2Bbaby%2Bgate%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

  2. QUESTION:
    Where can I find the best safety latches for baby proofing cabinet doors?
    I bought the Wal-Mart brand and they are not very practical. I am looking for ones that are easy to install

    • ANSWER:
      I live in earthquake turf and we use them to keep glass and other objects from flying out of cupboards during quakes. I’ve used several different types, but have found the easiest ones to both install and operate are the ones that Lowes sells. They also aren’t as unsightly as many of the other ones and the plastic they are made out of doesn’t snap with “adult” strength pressure.

  3. QUESTION:
    I need a replacement skeleton key for my IKEA cabinet (baby proofing)?
    Hi all,
    I have an IKEA TV unit with 2 glass doors and have lost the key to lock it. The TV unit is 5-6 yrs old but they still sell it at IKEA. It’s not a real key; I think it’s a skeleton key that many IKEA glass cabinets use. I have 3 glass cabinets from them, and I think I either lost or threw away all of them (thinking I’d never have a baby).

    I am babyproofing my home and my 9 mo. old is slamming the door shut and I am afraid of a big accident if I don’t solve this soon. I contacted IKEA and they said they can’t help me AT ALL, no replacement parts and a big ‘sorry’ – we’re useless. I looked on ebay and just can’t find it anywhere.

    Can anyone give me a clue what to do? Besides by a new t.v. unit? I have to open the cabinet to access my dvd player etc..otherwise I’d keep it duct-taped or something ;)

    Thanks!
    I talked with IKEA already and they can’t help me at all. Please give other suggestions, thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Lowes has them for sale at the key section- they have 2 different kinds -

  4. QUESTION:
    How to open a baby proofed cabinet?
    I don’t live in the house, I’m just watching the kids, but I cfan’t get the cabinet open. I’m sure it’s baby proofed because the 18 month old used to get into it all the time, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how to open the cabinet and I really don’t want to break it. Help please :) .

    • ANSWER:
      There are some types of babyproofing devices where you open the door partway and you can see a little plastic latch. If you just push down on it, you should be able to open the door.

      There are other types where there is a magnetic key (usually kept on the fridge – it should look vaguely like a mushroom or knob) that you have to hold against the door and rotate to disengage the childproof lock. The lock should be on the top corner of the cabinet opposite the hinges.

  5. QUESTION:
    When do I need to start baby proofing my house and how do I know what all needs to be done?
    My daughter is nearly 4 months old. When should I start baby proofing my house and what all should I do?? I need help! I know about the plugs for the outlets, and things to keep cabinets closed but what else should I do? We have stairs so I will need a gate for that.

    Thanks moms!

    • ANSWER:
      I recently was wondering this same thing. I found this article that helped me out a lot.

      1. Make sure that all outlets, especially those which can be reached by a baby or a toddler have outlet covers to prevent electrocution.

      2. All windows should have window guards, windows stops and safety netting to make sure that your child would not be falling out of them. However, do make sure that older children and adults could easily remove these baby safety equipment to use the window as an emergency exit when needed.

      3. Make sure that all of the bedrooms and the kitchen have smoke detectors installed in them.

      4. Use door locks and doorknob covers to keep babies, toddlers and children out of the dangerous areas or rooms in the house such as your office, garage and bathrooms. You can use hook-and-eye latches or slide locks high on doors, to be sure that they would be out o f your child’s reach

      I could only fit so much on this page. Here is the link to read more.

      There is like 30 different tips.

      http://babysafetyequipment.org/articles/babyproof-hom

  6. QUESTION:
    Can you give me some baby proofing tips?
    Since my daughter is 9 months old and will be walking soon – hubby and I need to baby proof-

    On my list I have:

    fix mini blind cords
    put locks on cabinets and drawers
    gate for the kitchen

    I already have covers over the electric sockets

    …

    What do you do with your medications- just keep them up high? I always read that you should keep them in a locked medicine cabinet-but I’ve never seen one.

    Any baby proofing tips?

    Thanks in advance!

    Judi

    • ANSWER:
      I run a home daycare and am required to keep all my medicine locked up. I don’t have a locked medicine cabinet I just use a plastic tool box with a lock on it. If I didn’t have to I probably wouldn’t bother keeping it locked just as long as its up high where a child couldn’t reach it it is fine.
      The only other thing you may need in the future for child proofing would be door handle covers, but you won’t need them for another year or two.

  7. QUESTION:
    Baby-proofing!?
    Last week, my six month old got up on his hands and knees and rocked back and forth for the first time, so I am finally getting around to baby-proofing the house. I have the outlet covers, door knob covers and power strip covers (which seemed like a great idea, but do not fit the powerstrip that I have behind my TV http://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper-Power-Strip-Safety/dp/B000056JJF ) I need to get some kind of cabinet locks, but I am not sure which kind work best. What other items do you recommend?
    Yes, OBVIOUSLY I supervise my child well. I used to know a family with a little girl who had serious brain damage because she was shocked by an electrical outlet. So I just want to do everything I can to avoid an accident, including supervision AND baby-proofing.

    • ANSWER:
      you would want something for the door to prevent it from shutting so that little fingers do not get pinched. You can get it amazon or babies r us.

      You also want to anchor cabinets to the wall because little ones like using the drawers as stepping stools and then the whole thing will come tumbling down on them.

      For cabinets with pull our drawers there are a lot to choose from. It’s really just up to you what you want. No need to get fancy. Pretty much all of those, you would need to screw on. As far as cabinet doors that swing open, there are a lot to choose from also depending on your cabinet hardware.

      I suggest to leave 1 or 2 drawers and not put baby proofing locks. Place things there that you don’t mind your little one playing with – like plastic containers and certain pots and pans. Your baby will love the freedom when he grows up that he is allowed to open a drawer.

      Also, I do want to add that because babies have different temperaments, how far you need to baby proof is dependent on that. Some babies you say “stop. don’t play with that” and they listen and then there are others that you have to say that 100 times and they still will keep playing with it. And it doesn’t mean that you’re not supervising them, it just means that they are highly curious.

      I happen to have one of those child. My son is now 3 years old and boy, was he highly active and highly curious. I’m a stay at home mom. I have baby gates, my cabinets are baby proofed, etc.

  8. QUESTION:
    Moms….Baby proofing tips?
    We are about to baby proof, Liam is trying his best to crawl. I know of the normal baby proofing like covering the outlets, proofing cabinets and drawers, etc… But what are some things that you wished you baby proofed or you didn’t know you needed to baby proof. What are some things your babies got into that surprised you?
    Thanks for any tips!!!
    I don’t feel infants should be kept away from everything. I reason I am asking this is because my friend’s husband twin sister was killed because a tv feel on her. I know children are curious and I know not to leave him unattended but things happen and I just wanted some tips.

    • ANSWER:
      Some things that we Baby proofed- and recommend baby proofing is:

      Fire Place

      Outlets- As you mentioned

      Tuck away phone cords/wires as best as you can

      Make sure the floor is vaccumed daily- Cause when there crawling they seem to find everything…LOL

      Put a Gate up in the kitchen so he cant crawl in there- Unless you want to baby proof cabinets and such.

      We also moved the Coffee Table because once our Daughter started to crawl she would hit her head on it and we decided it was best if it went for a while…

      Hope Ive helped!!!!!!!




Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Filed under: Uncategorized

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!