1. Cord and String Hazards
· What’s often missed: Blind cords, appliance cords, curtain cords, and even drawstrings on clothing or furniture.
· Risk: Strangulation.
· Tip: Use cord shorteners or cord wind-ups, secure cords out of reach, and avoid dangling items near cribs or play areas.
2. Furniture Tip-Overs
· What’s often missed: Dressers, bookshelves, TVs, and heavy furniture that aren’t anchored.
· Risk: Crushing injuries.
· Tip: Anchor all tall or heavy furniture to walls using brackets or straps—even items you think your baby can’t reach yet.
3. Hidden Sharp Edges and Corners
· What’s often missed: Fireplace edges, low tables, countertops, and even decorative furniture.
· Risk: Head injuries or cuts.
· Tip: Install corner guards or edge cushions, and don’t forget less obvious surfaces like metal brackets or open shelving corners.
4. Cabinet and Drawer Contents
· What’s often missed: Babyproofing locks on cabinets often focus on cleaning supplies but overlook staplers, scissors, plastic bags, batteries, and medications.
· Risk: Poisoning, choking, or cuts.
· Tip: Childproof every accessible drawer or cabinet, not just the ones with obvious chemicals.
5. Small Items at Floor Level
· What’s often missed: Coins, buttons, beads, LEGO pieces, or even pet food on the floor.
· Risk: Choking.
· Tip: Regularly scan floors, couches, and low surfaces, and teach older kids to pick up small items immediately.
Something to keep in mind: Parents often forget that babies crawl and explore differently than adults expect. Even a “safe-looking” room can have hidden hazards if a baby can reach a new corner or surface.
Boo Boo Busters services the Southern California area. For more information, an in-home consultation or help child proofing your home, please reach out to Boo Boo Busters at Info@booboobusters.com or call them at 800.940.1977. If you need help outside their service area, consider checking The International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS) at https://iafcs.org/ and click “Find a child proofer”
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