Many homeowners will call a kitchen remodeling company to redesign their kitchen cabinets with child safety in mind. But this can be a costly endeavor in both time and money and some homeowners are seeking alternative options of the do-it-yourself variety to baby proof the cabinets in their homes.
The Dangers of Kitchen Cabinets
Young children love to explore and that often results in tiny hands getting their fingers on sharp and hazardous objects. There is a heightened risk of injury associated with children who are able to open and shut cabinet doors and drawers that they shouldn’t be anywhere near. They might pull a drawer out on their head or body or use drawers to climb up onto a countertop, they could shut a door or a drawer on their fingers by mistake.
Any of these incidents could result in a wide range of significant injuries, all of which could be avoided by taking some simple steps to baby proof the cabinets throughout the house. Kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely to need some attention but even armoires, dressers, and closets could pose similar risks to the well-being of a child.
So, let’s discuss some of the actions you should take if you have kids or are expecting one in the near future. It’s never too early to make your home safe for your child.
Clear Out Hazardous Items
If a child wants to get into a cabinet, he or she will often find a way to do it. So, while you can take all the precautions in the world, if the child bypasses your safety measures you want to be able to keep that child from getting his or her hands on any dangerous items. These include sharp objects, cutlery, anything that can start a fire, plastic bags, medications, firearms, and small items that could pose a choking hazard. Relocate all of these items to a storage area that is high overhead and out of reach.
Install Magnetic Locks
These have become very popular with parents. A magnetic lock is installed inside a drawer to keep it from being opened unless the lock is disabled with a magnetic key. When that is placed near the magnetic lock, the latch releases and the drawer can be opened.
Use Tension Rods
These are a great choice for homes with handles on their drawers instead of knobs. Simply attach a tension rod though all of the handles as a way to secure a set of drawers from being opened. You can find tension rods in a many sizes and styles, so you’re bound to find one that matches your home’s décor.
Best of all, these are very easy to use and they are highly effective to keep your little ones out of the places they don’t belong. When you want to open a drawer, simply remove the rod and you can get inside, but keep in mind these are not difficult to remove. So, as your child gets older, he or she may be able to remove the rod on their own.
