out with all of these items, it’s worth
talking to your children (if they are old
enough to understand) and your helper
about what they should and should not
do in such an emergency.
Avoid electrocution
7
Children a day in
the US are treated
for electric shock or
burn injuries from
tampering with a
wall outlet
The hazard
Electrical sockets are pure temptation
for inquisitive fingers looking for cracks
and crevasses to explore, while teething
youngsters long for soft and accessible
things to chew on, and electrical wires
are very alluring.
What’s on the market?
Electrical socket covers are a must for
any sockets not in use – buy lots of these
cheap life-savers and make sure no
sockets are unprotected in your home.
Most baby shops will stock them. Wires
should be kept safely behind furniture
or wrapped up and kept in a wire holder.
It’s also worth having the electrical
wiring in your apartment checked
by an expert.
Cupboards, drawers,
fridges, freezers …
The hazard
So, little ones are curious - if they’re not
putting things in their mouths to see
what they taste like, they’re ripping them
apart or banging them on the floor to see
what noise they can make. When your
baby gets to this stage, you may be keen
to keep their little hands out of adult
cupboards and drawers.
What’s on the market?
Fridge latches would have saved the
eight eggs I found smashed on the
kitchen floor by my fun-loving two- and
three-year old boys, (but then I wouldn’t
have the awesome picture of the two of
them getting caught in the act, thick as
thiev es, guilty as sin and a floor covered
in a gooey mess and shattered shells!).
You can also buy multipurpose latches
which are particularly useful for securing
cupboards, drawers, fridges or freezers.
Alternatively, drawer locks can keep little
hands out of drawers not intended for
little people.
Cabinets
The hazard
Children like to climb, and some furniture
can seem like the perfect climbing frame
to young ones. Larger items of furniture
such as cabinets, wardrobes or wall units
can be pulled over, be it through toddlers
June 2017
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