Becoming a parent and taking care of a child is a full-time job. You’ll need to make adjustments in your life and your home. It’s normal for kids to trip or wobble when they start learning how to walk. They’ll also grow curious about their surroundings and try to roam around the house as they get older. There’ll be times when they’ll fall on the floor and accidentally acquire things that may hurt them. Hence, you need to ensure that there aren’t any safety hazards inside your house that could harm your child when you’re not watching them.
If you don’t know where to start childproofing, you can begin with your kid’s playroom. After all, this is where they’ll spend most of their time. Here are some steps you can follow to modify their room.
1. Pick The Right Flooring
One significant change you need to prioritize in your child’s playroom is the flooring. The materials you’ll use for the floor will play a part in keeping them safe and free from accidents. You’ll also need to think about the cost, longevity, and maintenance of the materials. For instance, tile flooring may be more expensive than adding mats to the room. They can also be more slippery, which may cause your child to slip or fall.
You can consider some options for your child’s playroom like domestic and exotic hardwood flooring, laminated flooring, or large play mats. These types of materials are long-lasting and easy to clean. This means you won’t have a hard time cleaning the area after your child finishes playing. They’re also resistant to moisture, so you won’t need to worry about your child accidentally falling on the floor if they ever spill something.
2. Pick The Right Toys
Providing various toys to your child may be beneficial to their development. It can help them learn different skills and also keep them occupied most of the day. However, you need to be meticulous when selecting which toys to give to your kid since there may be items that won’t suit their age.
Before you allow your kid to play with new stuff, you should check if they’re not too small or contain harmful chemicals first. Your child may put their toys inside their mouths when you’re not looking. They can choke if their playthings are too small and fit their mouths easily. Some things may also contain foreign substances that can make them sick once it enters their system.
You should check the label or read reviews about the toys you want to purchase to ensure that they’re safe for kids. It would be best if you’ll also put a place to store all the toys when they’re not in use. They can cause your child to slip in the playroom if they’re left scattered on the floor. Hence, you need to find ways to store toys properly to prevent any accidents.
3. Keep Electrical Wiring And Outlets Out Of Reach
If you’ll convert a room into a playroom that already has built-in outlets, you don’t have a lot of options to keep them out of your child’s reach. There are many households with outlets installed close to the floor, which a kid can easily access. The wires of your appliances can also become safety concerns if they aren’t secured properly.
One way to ensure that your child will be safe in the playroom is by covering all the outlets and wiring. You can purchase or make outlet covers and install them on all the reachable wall plugs inside the room. You can then secure the wires by tying them together or securing them on the wall high enough to keep them isolated from your child. This way, they won’t hang loose and pose a threat to your toddler’s safety.
You may also block the outlets and wirings with furniture like a cabinet or a chair to divert your child’s attention away from them.
4. Cover Or Remove Anything Sharp
Another vital step you need to remember when childproofing the playroom is covering and removing anything sharp. Before you allow your kid to roam freely in the room, you should check if there aren’t any exposed edges or pointy objects present first.
The corners of the furniture can hurt your child if they bump into them. Likewise, sharp items can poke on their skin and cause cuts or wounds. Thus, it’s essential to remove or cover them up to protect your child from accidents.
You can purchase soft gel or foam pipe covers for the edges of all the tables or cabinets inside the playroom. If you have a tight budget, you may utilize DIY covers like pool noodles to childproof your furniture.
Refrain from giving your child objects like pencils or sticks if they’re too young to use those items properly. Instead, pick stout and thick things that are easy to hold to prevent them from hurting themselves.
Final Thoughts
Childproofing your kid’s playroom will take some work. You’ll need to check every corner and ensure that there aren’t any materials that will potentially turn into a safety hazard. But, once you successfully turn the room into a safe space, you’ll feel more at ease knowing that your child will be free from harm.
So important to child proof your home if you ever have little ones visit,
Thanks for the great post. It’s been a while since I had little ones, and when my grandbabies come to visit, I want to be prepared.