Kitchens can be the focal point of many households, yet can also pose as potential danger zones for your infant. Keep your little one safe by following these babyproof kitchen tips.
Childproof your cabinets and drawers by installing locks that babies cannot open. Locks that attach to doors can provide an easy and effective solution to protect toddlers from grabbing knives, cleaning supplies, garbage bins or any other objects which might present choking hazards.
1. Lock Cabinets and Drawers
Kitchen cabinets and drawers provide a convenient place for storing various household essentials, including food, cleaning supplies, silverware/knives/medication. However, these storage spaces also present a potential choking hazard for babies and toddlers.
Childproof cabinet locks can help keep these things out of reach by protecting against slamming cabinets or pinching their fingers with them, as well as making cleanup simpler. They’ll prevent children from accidentally closing them too suddenly while making it simpler to manage messes that arise from accidents.
There are various kinds of locks available depending on the type of cabinet you want to secure. From adhesive locks to drilling into its door or drawer, there are multiple choices available depending on your usage needs and preferences. When considering which option best fits, consider your frequency of cabinet usage as well as whether a permanent lock would make sense for you.
Magnet cabinet locks are an ideal option because they do not require hardware. Not only can they function efficiently and be seamlessly concealed within your home’s decor, but they are also an excellent way for older children who may require help unlocking traditional locks to secure themselves properly.
Pull-cord locks that encircle side-by-side knobs are an excellent solution for cabinet doors and drawers, designed to make it difficult for children’s hands to open but easy for adults to unlock. We advise opting for ones with shorter cord lengths as long strings could pose a choking hazard to children.
Latch locks that connect to a special piece of plastic above a drawer or cabinet door may also be suitable. There is an assortment of styles available so that you can find something to meet both your taste and budget needs.
Some latch locks feature weak magnets that could allow small fingers to pinch or squeeze open cabinets if used improperly. If this concerns you, magnetic latches with stronger magnets might be more suitable – these latches can be found online and in stores alike and installed either with adhesive or hardware, although we recommend the latter option for ease of installation.
2. Lock Appliances
At home, most kitchen appliances can be easily accessible to children throughout the day and may pose serious risk if left out in reach or misused by them. Therefore, it’s wise to secure them away to ensure they won’t pose a danger of suffocation for your child.
Appliances can be extremely high up, so it is wise to install locks that will prevent children from opening them. There are locks designed specifically for refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and microwaves; just select one with one-click snap adjustment so it fits your specific appliance.
Kitchen cabinets often house items not designed for little hands, like cleaning supplies, plastic bags and heavy pots. To keep these from being accessible by children, many pediatricians advise locking cabinets so that they cannot be opened by children.
Stove knob covers are another fantastic solution that prevent children from accidentally turning on the stove and from inhaling fumes from cooking in your home. Some pediatricians even suggest installing an oven door lock so children cannot gain entry.
As for your fridge, it is an integral kitchen appliance and frequently used by children; therefore, having an easy-to-use lock that prevents your infant or toddler from opening it is necessary. These locks come in different sizes to prevent accessing its contents.
Your kitchen cabinet drawers should also be securely locked to protect any sharp objects such as knives that could potentially pose serious injuries to children if left unsecured.
If you own a dishwasher, it is especially essential that it remains out of reach from children so they do not access and consume its detergent pods, potentially leading to injury and even death.
As well as these safety measures, it is also vital that all electrical outlets in your kitchen are securely covered with plugs that cannot be easily reached by children. Furthermore, it’s recommended to equip the door with a lock to keep babies and toddlers from opening it and entering without supervision from an adult.
3. Keep Trash Cans Out of Sight
Keep your trash can out of sight to protect it from curious children and stray animals who might try to peek. Doing this also keeps it out of reach for anyone trying to break in or sneakily get a glimpse inside.
Visible trash cans may also be an eyesore that detracts from the appearance of your home. Therefore, many neighborhoods have ordinances requiring garbage cans be placed out of sight until they are picked up on trash day.
Even if you do not have these restrictions, consider placing the trash can underground to reduce its presence outside your property and lower odor levels and prevent pests from discovering it. This will keep odor levels down while also discouraging any unwanted insects from finding it.
Install a privacy screen around your outdoor trash can as another solution to make it less visible on your property and create less of an eye sore. These simple structures are relatively easy to assemble, providing another method to hide it away and make it less conspicuous in your landscape.
Screens can not only look attractive but are also effective in protecting trash cans from wild animals and stray pets. Some homeowners use them in combination with fences to help cover up their garbage can and make it less noticeable from outside or nearby neighbors.
One alternative for hiding the trash can is using a wooden or wicker laundry hamper box as an elegant kitchen trash can. They make for easy repurpose when needed!
Locking lid trash cans provide another means of safeguarding toddlers against accidental opening of their bins. Locking lids protect toddlers from falling inside as well as from potential choking hazards within.
Make sure to regularly sanitize your trash can to protect against harmful bacteria and germs that could lead to serious illness. Garbage cans provide an ideal breeding ground for these pathogens, so keeping it clean at all times is imperative for overall good health.
As part of your regular trash can maintenance routine, it is also necessary to regularly rinse out your bin with water to eliminate any lingering smells and avoid creating an eyesore or nuisance among neighbors. Trash cans that become overfilled may become eyesores as well.
4. Cover Electrical Outlets
When it comes to babyproofing your kitchen, electrical outlets should be given special consideration. As they’re easily accessible and pose an immediate choking hazard for toddlers, electrical outlets also present an inherent choking risk. Furthermore, children often stick knives or other dangerous objects into an outlet leading to shocks and burns for themselves or anyone nearby.
Protecting your kitchen quickly is as simple as covering electrical outlets when they’re not being used – many floor and wall outlets come equipped with safety covers that can protect sockets from dirt clogging up sockets, and keep people from accidentally tripping over them.
Plastic covers that plug directly into an outlet can also help children avoid pulling it out by curious hands, and make removing them more challenging for young ones.
There are various covers to choose from, but it is best to look for something tamper-resistant that does not contain small parts that may pose a choking hazard to children.
Self-closing outlet covers are another great option to help make your home more babyproof, providing extra peace of mind to families with young children and helping make the home safe for babyproofing purposes. They automatically close when something is unplugged from a socket hole, providing an automatic babyproof solution. This type of cover makes your home even safer!
Some covers also feature cord covers to conceal and protect the wires in your home from your baby touching them, reducing their chances of electrocution when touching powerlines in your home.
Along with covering outlets, it is also wise to install tamper-resistant outlets, which are mandated by many municipalities across the U.S. These types of outlets contain spring-loaded gates that prevent small children from pushing objects into their slots and creating hazardous situations.
Installing a rubber mat over floor outlets is another effective solution to protecting yourself and your family against electrocution in case an outlet malfunctions, while also helping them avoid tripping over it in the first place.