Childproofing your pool
The most important thing you can do to protect your child from the dangers of drowning in your pool is to have a pool safety fence installed professionally. Pool fencing is a physical barrier between the pool and your child, which is immeasurably better than door/window alarms or pool alarms. The other option, which is not endorsed by the IAFCS is pool netting, which goes over the pool and is held down by cleats around the pool's exterior. Pool netting is not a great option b
Furniture anchoring
Furniture anchoring has been a big topic in the news lately, specifically with a recent recall of IKEA furniture. It is vitally important to secure furniture to the wall studs to prohibit tip-over accidents. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Anchor It! campaign, Every 24 minutes a child in the U.S. is injured as a result of a TV or furniture tip-over incident. The Anchor It! campaign is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) call to action to
I always watch my baby
This statement is the one I hear most often from new parents when discussing the need to childproof. When I first became a parent, I had the same misconception. I thought nothing will happen to my son because he won't be out of my sight. It's most definitely easy to always watch your baby before they learn to walk, much less run. Ask the parents of a very active toddler if they always watch their baby. They can tell you it's nearly impossible to keep up with them. Most new
Cabinet Locks
Because cabinets and drawers are constructed differently, I often have to use multiple types of cabinet and drawer latches in the same home. Many clients who attempt to do it themselves find that stores only carry one type of latch, which are of questionable quality and might not work on their particular cabinetry. One type of lock we use often is the magnetic cabinet lock, which provides maximum security for securing cabinets. I recommend these for use under kitchen sinks, i
Baby monitor safety
One of the most common things I see during Home Safety Evaluations is a baby monitor placed or mounted too close to the crib. Monitors MUST be kept at least 3 feet away from the crib. Children can get entangled in the power cord or chew on the cord and risk electrical burns or electrocution. I make sure to utilize a cord channel as well as an outlet cover to prevent children from playing with the power cord or outlet. All electrical outlets should be protected with sliding ou
