Baby Proof Your Home

Bathroom Safety:

• Lower your water heater to 120* to prevent scalding
• Install a Toilet Lock to prevent child from falling in and/or flushing items down
• Lock all medicine cabinets or move medications to a higher location
• Electrical outlets should be GFI & have Outlet Covers
• Supervise children while bathing, never leave unattended
• Use Full Size Non-Slip Bath Mats/Shower Mats to prevent slipping
• Tub-Time Bumper Pad prevents children from injuring themselves on the side of the tub
• Place Spout Covers over the tub faucet to prevent head bumps
• Unplug and put away hair dryers, etc. with dangling cords
• Install Cabinet Latches to safeguard toiletries and cleaners
•  Install an Emergency Door Lock Release to prevent lock-ins (for Children and Seniors)
•  Do not allow your Lil' ones play in Laundry Hampers - very sharp edges inside
•  Install additional Safety Grips to help prevent falls
•  Do not place used razors & other dangerous items in an accessible waste baskets

 Kitchen Safety:

•  Keep your dishwasher latched at all times. Add the detergent only when ready to use it. Baby can access knives, glasses, etc...
• Use the back burners on your stove and turn the handles to the back. Install a Stove Guard to prevent accidental burns
• Use an Oven Lock to prevent access to the hot oven and also to keep the child from standing on the oven door which can cause the oven to tip over
• Install Cabinet Locks on the lower cabinets and drawers and/or move the dangerous items to a higher out of reach cabinet
• Keep a properly rated Fire Extinguisher in the kitchen
• Move appliances to the rear of the counter, and secure dangling cords with Cord Shorteners
• Always strap the child in his/her highchair
• Keep all Emergency numbers by the phone, including Poison Control
• Empty all buckets after cleaning and store upside down
• Use Stove Knob Covers to prevent accidental use
• Use a Refridgerator Lock to keep the child out(lots of glass items inside)
• Be careful of dangling tablecloths
• Move all refrigerator magnets out of reach, they can be a choking hazard

Nursery Safety:

• Move furniture, including cribs away from windows
• Secure all dangling drapery cords & blind cords with a Cord Wrap or a Blindwinder mounted out of reach
• Use Window Stops so windows cannot open more than 4", or window guards to prevent a tragic fall
• Install smoke detectors in all sleeping areas
• Install a Carbon Monoxide detector on each level of the home
• Crib slat spacing should not be more than 2 3/8" apart
• Remove mobiles from the crib when the child starts to reach for them
• Keep older children's toys away because of small parts (choking hazards)
• Once your baby can pull him/herself up and stand, set the crib mattress to the lowest position or install a Crib Tent
• Use a Nursery Monitor to listen when you are out of the room

Furniture Safety:

• Put Corner Cushions/Edge Cushions on sharp edges and corners of tables
• Secure all tall bookcases, dressers, and entertainment centers with Furniture Safety Straps to prevent toppling. Also, store heavier items on the bottom shelf for stability
• Use Safety Straps to prevent TV's, computers, and other equipment from falling and possibly injuring your child or worse
• Install TV Guards and  DVD Guards  or VCR Guards if they are exposed to the child's curious fingers
• Use Adhesive Latches to secure stereo cabinets, the glass doors can be very dangerous
• Segregate tall lamps and coat racks from the child's reach
• File cabinets should be secured to prevent it from tipping over and kept latched to prevent the child from the metal edges inside - Adjustable Locking Straps
• Remove glass top tables or install the Toddler Shield to prevent injuries
• Check all accessible drawers and remove all dangerous items or install Cabinet Locks (Tot Locks)
• Check the underside of chairs and tables for protruding nails or screws
• Keep the child away from exercise equipment and/or be sure to unplug 
• Never let your child play with folding chairs or tables as they could pinch a finger or the chair/table could collapse if not put up properly

 Door Safety:

• Use a Bi-fold Door Lock to prevent babies from pinching their fingers or opening bi-fold doors
• Door Knob Covers can keep children from opening off-limits doors, but will allow adult use.
• Lever Knob Covers are also available
• Use a Door Pinch Guard or a Door Holder to prevent pinched fingers
• Door Hinge Covers are also available to prevent little fingers from getting caught on the hinge side
• Install a Emergency Door Lock Release on all interior doors with locks, this will prevent accidental lock-ins
• Use a one-piece Door Stop to replace all metal or flexible coiled spring type with removable rubber tips (choking hazard) not only because of the removable tip but also to prevent pinched fingers in the coil
• Use a Sliding Door Lock to stop access to sliding doors including closets

Window Safety:

• Use Window Stops to prevent windows from opening beyond 4 inches
• Install window Blind Cord Wraps to prevent the strangulation hazard
• Open double hung windows at the top if possible
• Check the condition of the window screen attachment 
• Install Window Guards to help prevent falls from windows

 Electrical Safety:

• Cover all in use child accessible outlets with an Outlet Cover to prevent the child from unplugging the plug
• Use Night Lights that screw into the existing plate cover to prevent the child from unplugging the light and having an exposed bulb and outlet
• Use outlet protectors that cannot easily be removed, and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them. The Shoc Stop has a spring loaded door that closes automatically to cover the outlet
• Cord shorteners can help secure excess lamp & appliance cords
• Use a Power Strip Safety Cover to protect exposed power strips
• Use a Wire Guard to cover exposed cords or speaker wire along a wall
• Keep fans and portable heaters out of baby's reach
• Install Light Switch Extenders so the child can reach the light switch without the use of a chair

 Stairway and Banister Safety:

• Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs, and to keep children away from dangerous areas
• Use only vertical gates, not ones that children can get a foothold to climb over the gate
• Gates should be securely mounted to the wall/banister at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Pressure Gates are NOT recommended on stairs, very dangerous
• Installation Kits are available for both banisters and walls (movement of the gate can and will damage the drywall and in return will loosen the gate) 
• Banisters should have balusters with no more than a 4' space.  If wider than 4' then a clear Banister Guard is recommended
• Install a CareRail (Toddler Stairway Handrail) to prevent unsafe reaching for the Toddler

Fireplace Safety:

• Remove gas jet key (if present) from the fireplace and keep out of reach of the child
• Use a fireplace Hearth Gate to keep the child away from it; even if you do not use the Fireplace when the baby is awake, the pilot light is warm enough to burn a little ones hands
• Use Hearth Padding if you have a raised hearth
• Move any fireplace tools out of the reach of the child

Balcony & deck Safety:

• Secure your outdoor living area with Patio Door Locks/Alarms
• Safeguard the railing of a raised deck or balcony with a mesh Deck Guard
• Check that all chairs & furniture cannot be used for climbing over railings
• Segregate the BBQ with a Hearth Gate, or keep the child indoors while in use ( BBQ's stay hot enough to severely burn a child for 45 minutes after turing it off)
• Railings that have wide openings can be childproofed with a Deck Guard, so the child can't get caught in between the rails
• Block off deck stairs and/or contain child to the deck area with the installation of a Gate

Pool Safety:

• All Pools should be properly fenced off and the gate locked at all times
• Install a gate alarm and a pool alarm
• Safety Turtle Alarm - wristband locks on the child's wrist - base station sounds an alarm in the house
• Install a patio door lock up high so the little can't reach it
• While in the pool the young infant/child should wear a PFD with Adult supervision (Personal Floatation Device) PFD's are not recommended for use in Boats
• Lifejackets should always be worn while in a boat, NOT PFD's (lifejackets are guaranteed to flip the child over where as PFD's are not)

Driveway Safety:

• Use a Retractable Driveway Guard to safeguard your child from the street
• Use a Safety Sign to warn motorists of children's presence

Travel Safety:

• Have your child's Car Seat inspected, no matter how correct you may think it is installed, stop by and have it checked;  Free Car Seat Inspections available 6 days a week
• Secure all items in the vehicle so that in the event of a collision they do not become projectiles, sometimes its not the collision that hurts, it's the items within the vehicle that cause the injuries
• Driver and front passenger should be 25cm or more back from the Air Bags for the adults to be safe
• NEVER Tether a rear facing car seat, front to back movement is very important for rear facing and no more than 1/2" movement side to side at point of attachment
• Children in the 5 point harness should not be wearing snowsuits as you cannot tighten the harness enough; harness should be 1 finger width between the child's collar bone and the harness, Chest Clip should be at arm pit level 
• The 5 point harness (in the rear facing position) should be behind or level with the child's shoulder
• The 5 point harness (in the forward facing position) should be level or above the child's shoulder
• Never purchase a child's car seat from the USA, as they do not meet our Standards

Now that your home is Child proofed, 

is your cottage ready for the little one?

Disclaimer:

This checklist is for your reference only, it may not cover all the child safety issues in your home, or with your child.  Childproofing does not take the place of proper adult supervision; the products that are available are to assist the parents/caregivers with the children. 

 Remember never leave your child unattended, did you know that most accidents happen with the Parent/Caregiver right there...

If you have any further questions or situations that are not listed here

 please call or e-mail us at

705-735-4333

610 Huronia Rd. Unit # 7

(corner of Mapleview Dr. & Huronia Rd.)

"It only takes a second for an accident to happen,

 sometimes a lifetime to heal"

Information you should know to babyproof your home:

Outlets:

• Standard - one screw in the middle of the plate            Qty.  ______
• Decora -    two screws ......                                            Qty.  ______
• Items that must stay plugged in    (Standard outlet)     Qty.  ______

                                                            (Decora outlet)         Qty. _______

• Power Bars                                                                   Qty: _______
• 6 Plug Gang Box                                                          Qty: _______

Drawers:

• Framed - each drawer has a frame around it          Qty.   _______
• Floating - no frame around each drawer                Qty.   _______

Cupboards:

• Side by side              Qty. ________
• Single                       Qty. ________
• Lazy Susan               Qty. ________
• Corner Cabinet         Qty. ________

Appliances:

• Refrigerators                                          Qty. _______
• Stoves (oven door & bottom drawer)     Qty. _______
• Freezers                                                  Qty. _______
• Dishwasher                                             Qty. _______
• Microwave                                              Qty. _______
• Gas Stove     Yes  ___   No  ____

Furniture:

• Tables   Size:  (1)_______  (2)_______  (3)_______ (4)_______ (5)_______ (6)_______
• Wall Units                    Qty: ______   Glass Doors?  Qty:  _____
• Book Shelves               Qty: ______
• China Cabinets            Drawers  _______    Cupboards  _______
• Pantries                       Qty: ______
• Filing Cabinets            Qty: ______
• TV's                            Qty: ______
• Chest of Drawers        Qty: ______

Fireplaces:

• Gas  ___  Wood  ___   Propane  ___
• Hearth:   Length  _______  Depth  _______

Doors:

• Coil Door Stops                                     Qty. ________
• Round Door Knobs                               Qty. ________
• Lever Handles                                        Qty. ________
• Sliding Closet Doors                              Qty. ________
• Exterior Doors                                       Qty. ________
• Sliding Patio Doors                                Qty. ________
• Bi-fold Doors                                         Qty: ________
• Locking Interior Doors                          Qty: ________

Windows:

• Sliding Windows                                   Qty: ________
• Casement (crank -out type)                   Qty: ________
• Blinds                                                    Qty: ________

Stairs:

• Banister to Banister   Qty. _____   Width: _________  Width: _________ Width: ________
• Banister to Wall        Qty. _____   Width: _________  Width: _________ Width: ________  
• Wall to Wall             Qty. _____   Width: _________  Width: _________ Width:  ________ 
• Wrought Iron           Qty. _____   Width: _________   Width: _________ Width: ________ 

Are any of your Stairs on an angle?     Yes___  No___   Qty. ______   Degree of Angle:  ________

Stairs side by side:  Yes  ____  No  ____  Distance from one side to the other __________

 ** If possible bring in a picture of your situation...this will enable us to serve you better**

Bathrooms:

• Bathtubs               Qty:  _____   Is your Shower diverter on the Spout Yes __  No __
• Shower Stalls        Qty:  _____
• Toilets                  Qty:  _____   Are your Toilets standard shape?       Yes __  No __
• Cupboards           Qty.  _____
• Drawers                Qty.  _____ Framed:  Yes ___  No ___   Floating:  Yes  ___ No___

PFD's:  (No reflective on the collar) Supervised Pool use onlyYes ___  No  ___  Qty: ____

Lifejackets: (Reflective on the collar)   Boat and Lake use  Yes ___  No  ___  Qty:  _____

Lifejackets are guaranteed to flip the child over, whereas PFD's may or may not flip the child over

Notes:  ______________________________________________________________________________

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