{"id":12695,"date":"2017-09-30T10:29:10","date_gmt":"2017-09-30T15:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abodo.com\/blog\/?p=12695"},"modified":"2021-01-05T09:27:11","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T15:27:11","slug":"apartment-childproofing-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/apartment-childproofing-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"A Handy Guide to (Affordably) Childproofing Your Apartment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your baby just got mobile \u2014 it\u2019s time to batten down the hatches and fasten every latch. Everything within that tiny arm\u2019s reach is now a risk that requires childproofing. Three children<\/a> are injured every hour by unsecured objects at home \u2014 that\u2019s more than 25,000 a year. Where do you start trying to make your home safe for your new toddler?<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to run to the hardware store and pay an arm and a leg to get all of the newest safety devices on the market. Just walk through your home, look for hazards, and be creative (but thorough) with your solutions while buying your\u00a0baby gear<\/a>. In an apartment, your hands are tied when it comes to permanent changes, but there are still workarounds for renting parents.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start by looking at a few of the areas in your home that could be most dangerous to your toddler, and consider some affordable solutions.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Cupboards and Drawers<\/h2>\n

Lower cupboards are very tempting for tiny tots \u2014 they can crawl right in and wreak havoc on your pots and pans. These handles can be secured using elastic bands or inexpensive store-bought locks. Although elastic bands work for cupboards, drawers should always be secured with purchased locks. It\u2019s not just about keeping kids away from the drawer’s\u2019 contents, but about keeping them from pulling the drawer out and onto themselves.<\/p>\n

When securing your cupboards and drawers, make sure you do so tightly: If they open even slightly, they can pinch tiny fingers.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Oven and Stove<\/h2>\n

When in use, your oven and stove pose obvious burn risks. But even when sitting idle, they still hold the potential for damage. If you can, pop off the burner knobs within reach of little ones, and keep them in a drawer until you need them \u2014 that way, grabby hands don\u2019t accidentally turn burners on.<\/p>\n

Oven doors can also be tempting to pull on. To keep toddlers from pulling them down and\/or crawling in, use an appliance lock to keep that door solidly shut.<\/p>\n

\u2713 TVs, Dressers, and Bookcases<\/h2>\n

TVs and furniture are the #1 cause of injury by falling objects in the home. Flatscreen TVs are very easy to tip over but can be easily secured by mounting them on a wall or strapping them to the TV stand, which also needs to be stabilized. That mess of cords behind your TV stand \u2014 HDMIs, power cords, component cables, etc \u2014 will also be a problem, so consider picking up a cord manager, which is like a tidy tube that keeps everything covered.<\/p>\n

Dressers and bookcases are the #2 cause of injury, and due to their size, some of the most fatal. These are best secured with brackets that screw directly into the wall, which could violate some lease agreements \u2014 likely well worth the charges to your security deposit. However, you could also try furniture straps, which could result in smaller holes. Either way, if you check with your property manager and repair the holes before you move out, you should be all set.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Refrigerator<\/h2>\n

Refrigerators are surprisingly tippy. If the door swings open and gets pulled on \u2014 say, your toddler tries to pull themselves up using the open door as support \u2014 it could topple. Get another appliance lock, like you used to secure your oven, to ward off danger.<\/p>\n

\"Lock<\/h2>\n

\u2713 Outlets<\/h2>\n

Outlets, by design, are everywhere \u2014 and more often than not, they\u2019re at ground level. You should be able to block a good number of them by carefully arranging your heavy furniture, as long as you don\u2019t leave a crawlspace.<\/p>\n

For the rest, get plastic plug covers or cover them up with duct tape (keeping in mind that it could be difficult to remove the latter).<\/p>\n

\u2713 Doors<\/h2>\n

Closets, your garage, or even your front porch are no place for an unsupervised toddler. Lock every door that you can, and use \u201ctwist and grip\u201d knob covers for the rest, which are usually less than $5 a piece.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Tables and Sharp Corners<\/h2>\n

Safety hack: Cover the long edges of your coffee table with a pool noodle. Just slice it along one side, and slip it onto the sharp edge. Side tables, chairs, wall edges, and your kitchen table could also harm a crawling or walking baby that has trouble balancing. Cushioned tape is also an affordable and effective option.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Cleaning Supplies & Medicines<\/h2>\n

Whether they\u2019re under the sink, on top of the fridge, or in the hall closet, cleaning supplies and medicine can never be kept too securely. Although you\u2019ve already locked all the cabinets and closets in your house, add another layer of security by putting these essentials in sealed plastic storage containers.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Bathroom<\/h2>\n

There are plenty of things in the bathrooms that you don\u2019t want your toddler touching \u2014\u00a0and with so much water access floating around, drowning is a real risk. Toilet locks can help curious kids from tipping head-first into the bowl, but that\u2019s far from the only risk. Hair dryers, curling irons, razors, medicines, and other toiletries should be put securely away after every use.<\/p>\n

But, it\u2019s best to keep them out of the bathroom altogether.<\/p>\n

\u2713 Stairs<\/h2>\n

Baby gates are a must for homes with stairs \u2014 but they would benefit any family with young kids (or dogs) by letting them quarantine certain areas. The fewer places your baby can go, the less trouble they can get into.<\/p>\n