HOME SAFETY - Some more ideas

After my third child could walk i found there were a lot more areas of my home that he could get into.  He's a real monkey and things i didn't need to lock up with my other children i have had to secure with him.

I'd like to share

with you some of the products that have worked for me and link them to these other articles below.

Initially it has been draws and cupboards that he was getting into.  On the cupboards i have the locks that have a hook type system that locks from the inside and which you push down to open.  These screw onto the inside of the cupboard or draw and can only be opened a certain distance before you have to depress the latch to get he cupboard fully open.   You can also buy a magnetic system which uses a 'key' to open them, but i would be afraid I'd lose the 'key'.

Another product i have found really good is an adhesive one that sticks onto either side of the cupboard or draw.  It has two 'buttons' which stick on and a plastic strip with the 'eye-holes' in it that clip over these buttons.  This is really good for draws because it can go around corners.  I also have it on my fridge/freezer and it is really effective.  For cupboards with double handles there are an array of sliding locks that work really well.  Although one type i had which i wouldn't recommend had two moulded plastic hooks on each end and they slid in and out to expand.  It didn't last the distance and rendered it useless in a short time.

Mostly these products come in packs of two or four and vary in price range too.  There are also some cheaper alternatives that you could try like making door wedges out of a cheap swimming 'noodle', making your own safety gates (if you know a handy man or woman), using adhesive velcro to secure items like fridge doors etc.

The next area we were having a problem with was the oven - i could see this was an accident waiting to happen!  My son was opening the oven door and standing on it to reach up to the bench.

I found a nifty adhesive clip that 'locks' the oven door in place and can't be opened by little fingers.  For the stove top i have a guard which is expandable to fit all sizes of stoves.  These products all seem to be fitted with adhesive stickers and are really easy to install.  So far i have found them to be strong and durable - although i don't know how i'm going to get them off, but i'm assured by the manufacturers instructions that they come off easily.  I would recommend keeping the packaging for removal instructions later.  Eucalyptus oil, used neat on a cloth, is an excellent way to remove sticky glue residue.

A few other things i have used around the home are the standard stair gates, plastic socket plugs - a must have and readily available , door wedges to stop doors from closing on little fingers - i was lucky to find a two pack in the two dollar shop for $2 and they are also handy to keep doors ajar without the banging against the door jam.  A simple hook and latch was used to secure a sliding door to our ensuite, baby loves to go in there and toss things down the toilet!.  There are also an array of corner protectors for furniture, door knob covers, DVD/Video covers and gadgets to tie shelves or units to the wall so they don't topple over.

I think rather than rushing out and buying it all have a look around your home and see what could be a problem.  It doesn't hurt to put things away for a while.  Start with the basics, socket plugs and secure medicines and poisons.  Your child will be the best gauge and you will soon learn how careful or how adventurist they are and deal with it accordingly.

There is nothing like supervision, although we can't be there 24/7 if you start with the obvious areas of your home - kitchen, bathroom, power points, electrical equipment - you are well on your way to providing a safe environment for your little one.