Be careful with hinges as children's fingers are easily caught https://flic.kr/p/29nMcn
We all want only the best for our children and with small children especially, safety is absolutely paramount. Skinned knees and bumped heads might not seem like much of a worry, but young children are not only curious but incredibly fragile creatures and are still growing into themselves and developing their personalities. This means an accident in the home might not just cause them physical pain, but could result in a mental anguish that will have ramifications throughout childhood and into their teenage years.
An average homestead will be full of potential hazards for young children. Any free-standing furniture could easily topple and fall on them and there will undoubtedly be numerous electrical cables hanging around, which they could quite easily trip over. However, doors are often overlooked when it comes to child safety in the home.
It's all too easy for a child to run into a door hinge, get their hands caught or to lock themselves in a room they shouldn't be in, so here we've collated a number of tips that should help you make the doors in your home completely child-proof.
Don't make a child cry, child-proof your doors! https://flic.kr/p/emN4Hc
Stop Slamming Doors
One of the most common and harmful accidents a child can suffer is to get their hands caught in a slamming door. This is especially true when it's particularly windy or there is a certain member of your family who is prone to making dramatic exits. To prevent doors from slamming, simply attach a 'slam stopper' to the edge of each door. Slam stoppers are buffers between the doors and their frame, that can be wrapped around the outer edges to ensure that the doors never completely close.
Hinge Strips
These are simple, clip-on strips that can be attached to the hinges on the edge of the door, stopping children from getting their fingers caught whilst still allowing the doors to open and close with ease.
Keep Them Closed
Of course there is no way to completely prevent children from exploring, but you can make the temptation less enticing by keeping all doors, cupboards, fridges and freezers closed when they're not in use. You could even install a simple 'catch' that will stop the doors from being opened by any more than a couple of inches. The catch can be released by pushing it gently from the top, but most young children won't figure this out (unless you let it slip of course). These are especially handy on floor level cupboards where you might keep potentially harmful cleaning products. Magnetic locks can also be used to keep children out of drawers that contain potentially dangerous tools.
Visible Glass
Another potential accident for younger children (especially the more excitable ones) is running headfirst into glass doors and partitions. You can largely prevent this of course by making sure that it's absolutely clear when the doors are closed. There are stickers and decals that can help make the glass 'stand out', or you could put a plastic guard rail across the door to keep the young ones at bay.
Off Limits!
Make it clear that certain rooms and cupboards are off limits by installing child-proof doorknobs. These knobs will only turn when they have been squeezed or pushed (depending on the make and model), meaning little inconvenience, but maximum safety.
By following the above tips, you'll be able to keep your children safe without dulling their inquisitive nature, so everybody wins! Remember though that just because the doors in your home are safe, that doesn't mean the doors in your friends or family members’ homes will be, so make sure your children are aware of the potential dangers.
