Child Safety in the Home - Crucial for YOUR Family Child Care Business!
Child safety in the home is the number one concern for all daycare providers and parents as well. It should be your number one priority in order for you to provide the best child care.
Naturally, this can be an enormous job to figure out everything you have to do to ensure the ultimate home safety. There is no magical way to avoid all injuries and these are just some suggestions. You can, however, decrease risk by taking a step-by-step approach for the different ages and stages of children in your care, including baby home safety.
I am sharing with you some important safety suggestions I've learned and use daily in my home daycare. I have split it into into 2 categories:
Baby Home Safety
Toddler Safety
The latter is a large subject that I have covered on its own page,
Toddler Safety.
Child Fire Safety
for your Child Care Business or even just for your family is so important. Please do not skip this ALL important topic.
This will help you save energy and time by focusing on the age groups you will have. In these pages I will cover equipment as well- like crib safety, child safety latch, gates, etc.
ALWAYS KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL Safety gates are one of the easiest ways to keep those little ones off stairs, out of rooms not baby-proofed, or even to keep them from being under foot when you or family members are busy. These are the awesome
Child Safety Gates
that I have used for years. And speaking of keeping them under control, the highly debated Child Safety Leash is covered
HERE
Note: I am NOT including children transportation safety (I NEVER transport because of the tremendous liability when you do). Nor are these pages all inclusive or intended to eliminate your liability, it is simply some things to consider for child safety in the home, and is quite lengthy as you will see in my safety pages. Check with your local child care network before applying these child safety in the home suggestions. Also, see my Privacy and Disclaimer Policies
Please share your experience or expertise about Child Safety in The Home.
Please share any safety ideas or stories you have. ITS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US!
Baby home safety, (young and mobile):
- ALWAYS KEEP THEM IN YOUR SITE,-vital for toddler safety! OK here is an item that has helped me tremendously during daily nap-time. My husband installed wireless cameras over each crib and baby bed in our home so that I can watch all of the kids while they are sleeping. The cameras cycle on the TV screen in my kitchen. Babies always sleep near me, but now I keep track of the older toddlers every minute. They even have sound! It took him about 15 minutes to install the wireless system.
WARNING ABOUT THESE CAMERAS, IF YOU USE THE CORDED CAMERAS MAKE SURE YOU SECURE THE CORDS FAR AWAY FROM ANY TODDLERS REACH. THEY CAN GET WRAPPED AROUND THEIR NECK
I asked him to find some economical systems to put in our Child Care Equipment Store for you to check out (he tells me there are a few things you want to be careful of when buying these - like stay away from 2.4 GHz or you will get lots of interference and wireless is easier to install).- Since they put everything in their mouths, be sure all of your toys are clean and sanitized, age appropriate for infants, non-toxic (lead free paint), and no small parts that can be broken off and swallowed.
- Hold the baby when you feed him or her. (Propped bottles are a choking hazard and are key in baby home safety)
- Infants are placed on their backs to sleep in their crib, ONLY after you ensure Baby Crib Safety, be sure to check this! Never put an infant on your adult-sized bed, thick rug, water bed, pillow or bean bag.
- Do not leave infants in car seats, or carriers on top of your table, counter top, chair, couch, etc.
- Never tie or hang a pacifier, rattle or toy around a baby's neck.
- If you have to bathe an infant- water temperature should be between 82`F and 93`F. NEVER leave them unattended. (toddler safety, too)
- Always check temperature of warmed baby bottle before feeding as part of baby home safety. NEVER heat in a microwave- uneven heating (I put the bottles in a cup of warm tap water to heat them). Never hold the baby while you are cooking or warming food, or as you drink a hot beverage. Their little hands will grab at everything that looks interesting to them.
- Cover all of your electrical outlets with caps and hide electrical cords. This is a common child safety in the home action, but I take it one step further- I will even put furniture in front of it to block curious fingers from trying to get at the caps.
- Be sure babies are securely and properly buckled and harnessed when you place them in a high chair, swing, stroller, car seat. High chairs should have a wide base so they don't tip over.
- Check your furniture to be sure it won't tip over or move (like a rocking chair) when a baby tries to pull himself up on it.
- When a baby begins to walk on their own, be sure that you move things that could trip them (rugs included) You don't want them to fall into or onto something hard or sharp. Also, if possible, provide a secured carpeted floor- You'll be giving them a softer landing.
- Check all of your cupboards- which ones are unsafe? Baby proof them with a child safety latch or child safety locks.
- You will need a baby home safety gate near stairways or other dangerous areas. I have 4 of these and they can be a very important part of child safety in the home.
Click here for my extensive list of Toddler Safety Issues
- Do not smoke in your child care home- for all infant and toddler safety. Yes, this is child safety in the home.
- Do your walls or furniture have peeling paint? Do you know if the paint is lead free? Babies will eat this!
- Be sure your drinking water is safe from bacteria and nitrates. Worry about this especially if you have your own well.
- Check ALL your house plants and remove any that are poisonous.
- Keep all of your plastic bags, styrofoam objects, or balloons out of reach of infants (and all children).
- Never pick up your babies (or toddlers) by the arm or hand- you can cause a joint injury.
- Do not use baby powder or talcum powder when you are diapering an infant or toddler- it can get into the child's lungs.
This link leads to a large list of
Toddler Safety Concerns!
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