Childproofing the Home
One of the most common places children are injured is within the home. As young children grow and become more curious, they are at increased risk for injuries resulting from drowning, poisoning, choking, falls, burns, and head injuries.
Many of these injuries are preventable by childproofing your home. See the links below for practical insights, expert tips and reliable resources to help families prepare a safe environment in which their children can learn and grow.
Childproofing Your Home
Foreign objects sucked into the windpipe is a common cause of injury and death in infants.
- Beware of small detachable parts on toys; the government regulates size of infants’ toys but not those of older brothers and sisters.
- Cut food into bite-size pieces and encourage children to chew thoroughly. Playing, singing and other activities should not be allowed while eating.
- Keep coins, peanuts, latex balloons, beads, button batteries, safety pins and baby powder away from infants and small children.
- Chewable medicine should only be used for children over 3 years of age. If your child chokes, do not blindly stick your finger down the throat for a foreign object; this may only force the object farther down the throat.
- LEARN CPR and make sure all caregivers know what to do for a choking victim.
Choking
