Before the exploring begins in earnest, it’s probably not a terrible idea to make sure your home is safe for inquisitive tots. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for the onslaught.
A note on safety, before we go on
You’re never going to be able to eliminate risk entirely. At some point, your child might trip and nut the floor. But laying foam from wall to wall is neither practical nor - more importantly - ultimately desirable.
Learning about danger for ourselves is a necessary life lesson, for children and adults alike. How else would we judge risky situations, and measure our responses accordingly?
Just how much mild risk you expose your toddler to is a choice. Being too free and easy could lead to distressing trips to A&E, and yet wrapping them in cotton wool may hamper their development.
For instance, banning them from certain rooms may prove counterproductive, as some things they’ll need to learn to stay away from for themselves. It’s up to you to find the right level for you and your child.
As such, some of the suggestions we’re about to make are optional. But we’ll start with high-risk areas that need specific attention.
As it’s impossible to always watch a child, these are the things with which to take the utmost of care:
Tips for alleviating mild peril
And here are some non-essential precautions you might take:
Some of us like to get plug socket covers, for fear children will endanger themselves by sticking an object, or their finger, in the socket. However, standard plug sockets are designed to be safe, and are only activated when an object of the right size is inserted into the top earth socket.
This is precisely what a socket cover provides - a means of activating the plug, hence overriding its safety features. If a child takes out a cover and puts it back in upside down, then the two open sockets are active.
The Department of Health issued a warning to this effect in June 2016, and recommended all such covers be removed from health or social care premises. In addition, such covers aren’t regulated, and use of those of a non-standard size can potentially damage the socket.
One good way to see the type of mischief your tot might get into is to crawl around your home on your hands and knees.
That way you’ll see everything at their eye level, and you may get a better impression of everything they may want to grab or climb.
For instance, it may give you an idea of how much higher to place any breakables you have. Also consider what they may want to put in their mouths, and make sure there are no choking hazards within reach.
In all this, please don’t let worry get on top of you. There’s only so much you can do, and we’re sure you’ll be awesome. Good luck, and enjoy!
For extra peace of mind, consider taking out a home insurance policy with accidental damage cover.