Baby Proofing 101 – How to Keep Your Baby Safe in the Kitchen

by Kyra Bradbury

You will want to pay particular attention when baby proofing your kitchen. Your baby will likely find the kitchen a very interesting place indeed. Too bad that it’s one of the most dangerous rooms in your home. Here are some of the things you’ll want to do before baby starts exploring this area:

1. Use drawer latches and cabinet locks for drawers and cabinets, specifically ones that contain sharp things, breakable things, cleaning agents, heavy items, foods that are choking hazards and medicines. Drawers are places where fingers can get pinched and where baby might like to climb. Once your baby figures out how to operate the baby latches (and he or she definitely will), you’ll know it’s time to move all of the dangerous items to another secure area. You’ll find that things that are dangerous for your baby will evolve along with your baby. Just make sure that you stay on top of the baby proofing as much as possible and adjust as necessary.

2. You’ll need an appliance latch for ovens, refrigerators and even possibly dishwashers. Knob covers can be used on oven ranges that have knobs on the front. Handles of pots and pans should always be turned toward the rear of the stove top, away from curious hands. Whenever possible, use the back burners first.

3. Sitting baby on the counter top is a no no, not only because baby could fall, but baby’s hands might find their way to stove tops, electrical outlets, toasters and the like.

4. Do not ever carry anything hot like coffee or soup while carrying or holding your baby. In the blink of an eye, baby’s hand can knock whatever you’re holding out of your hands. Do not leave a hot drink or soup on the edge of a counter or table where baby could reach. Make sure that older siblings follow this rule as well.

5. Keep your kitchen garbage can in a latched cabinet or behind a secured door. Lots of dangerous things wind up in the garbage like old food, broken glass, etc.

6. Make sure spills are cleaned up right away, so that baby does not get into them or slip and fall.

7. Tablecloths that hang over a kitchen or dining room table can be very dangerous if baby grabs hold and pulls it off the table. Not only could baby suffocate in the table cloth, but baby could potentially pull other things on top of him or her.

8. Cords from drapes or blinds should be up high enough so that baby cannot get tangled up in them. Either tie them higher up or cut them and make them shorter.

9. Alcoholic beverages should always be locked away. Even the smallest amount of alcohol can be fatal to a baby.

10. Raw honey and foods containing corn syrup should be kept from baby as well. Both contain spores of botulism, which is harmless to adults, but causes botulism in babies. Botulism causes lethargy, poor appetite and weakened sucking which can lead to dehydration or pneumonia. Most pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is at least a year old before allowing him or her to eat foods containing honey or corn syrup.

Reprinted with permission.

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