The world is a new, exciting place to little ones; objects in your home present exploration opportunities, some safe, some not. Follow these steps to baby proof and childproof your home to keep your children safe as they learn and grow.
3. Keep all cords out of reach. If you have floor-length blinds or window treatments with cords close to cribs and other furniture, shorten them so they aren�t accessible to your children. Cut through any looping cords.Color: Nature's colors like white, cream, brown, green and blue are normally neutral in a decorating scheme. Black is grounding and should be saved for small pieces.� Appliance latches: Prevent them from opening the oven, refrigerator or dishwasher.� Doorknob covers: These special covers require coordination to open doors that little hands have not yet developed. Put these covers on all exterior doors as well as doors into rooms that you haven�t childproofed.If you want a warm and inviting atmosphere that is unique to your home and personality, then the Eclectic look is for you. Have fun with your furnishings and create your own "decorating style" today.2. Purchase childproofing products. Many products are available to childproof your home. Consider purchasing some of these items:� Bumpers for tables and fireplace hearths: Despite your warnings to not run in the house, they inevitably will. Cover these corners with rubber bumpers to reduce the risk of injury.Traditionally, decorators start by deciding on a "decorating style". Popular styles include Traditional, Contemporary and Cottage. There are also geographic themes like Southwest, Oriental and French as well as styles that recreate an era like Victorian or Art Deco.If there just seems to be too much to take in then don't panic, help is at hand. An online lighting store can give you advice and assistance in choosing the right kind of lighting options for your home and budget. Specialists can assist with the selection, design and installation so make use of them and their invaluable advice. Do some research beforehand to get an idea of what designs you like and think about if the light is for decorative purposes or as a main light source. By narrowing the field of choices down, you will find the whole selecting process much easier. Choosing your lights should be fun, so enjoy yourself!� Power outlet plates with sliding covers: Keep little fingers out of electrical sockets with these special plates rather than the old plastic inserts, which can be removed and are choking hazards.8. Get rid of poisonous houseplants. Children love to explore with their mouths, so don�t keep aloe plants, poinsettias or other poisonous greenery around.4. Keep pots and pans out of reach. Use the back burners and turn the pot handles in so little ones can�t reach up and pull their hot contents down.Accents: These include small decorator pieces and items of personal interest. Keep collections together in one area to highlight their uniqueness. Very small collections can be placed on a tray or attractively displayed on a table. You may also want to consider using some of your flat items as wall decor, especially if you are limited on space.7. Secure top-heavy furniture. Toddlers who are starting to crawl and climb may try to scale bookshelves or TV stands. Bolt these to the wall, rearrange them to put the weight at the bottom or get rid of the furniture altogether if it can�t be made more secure.Large areas like walls look best with a lighter color. A darker or contrasting color can be used on one wall for a dramatic effect. Beautiful paint makes pictures and decor "pop" out of the background and increases their intensity. Try using warm colors like pink, peach or mauve. Or paint with soothing colors like blue or green. Remember, if you don't like it, you can always paint over it!Floor coverings may be wood, tile or carpet of the same color or a darker hue than the walls. Area or throw rugs may then be added to add interest, color or texture. Rugs also serve as protection from dirt and scuffs.Use a mix of ceiling and wall lights to get the effect you want. Ceiling lights are the most important light fixture in any room and come in many different varieties. Elegant, modern recessed lights, flush and semi flush ceiling lights and pendant lights - which you choose will depend on the look you want to achieve and factors such as the height of your ceiling.
Review your childproofing efforts every few months to ensure they remain effective as your child learns and grows. For example, gates that once kept your crawler out of a room may now be tempting to climb. If you�d like to find more home safety tips and advice, visit Nationwide Insurance. There, you can also find home insurance to help protect your home and family.
Author: Kristin Armstrong
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