Bringing home a new baby is a joyful occasion, but with everything else on your mind at this critical time, it’s easy to forget that your home might hold some hidden hazards for that infant. Things that are minor concerns or even completely unimportant from an adult’s perspective can severely hurt or even kill a baby. Not to worry, though – there are things you can do to make the space you live in safe to share with your new child, and we’ve listed three of them below.
1. Install Locks on Your Windows
Everyone knows that babies and stairs don’t mix, but a curious baby can just as easily fall out of a window if precautions aren’t taken. The obvious way to fix this is to close your windows any time you leave a room or are not able to directly supervise your baby. However, an even better course of action is to place child-proof locks on your windows and lock each one when you shut it.
Even if you think your baby couldn’t possibly be strong enough to get the window open, remember that it only takes a single accident to cause irreparable harm to your child. It’s best to err on the side of caution and prevent any tragic accidents from happening to begin with.
2. Clear Out the Pests
Have you ever come across an infestation of some sort while gardening and wonder how it could possibly have gotten so bad without you noticing? The same thing can happen in and around your home. Whether it’s blood-sucking, disease-carrying ticks, termites in the foundation or rodents creating dangerous frayed wires in the walls of your home, pests can create all sorts of hazardous situations in and around your home. What’s worse is that you often won’t even know they’re there until you’re in dire straits.
Now is a great time to conduct a thorough inspection of your home, look for signs of pest activity, and take action if any are found. Investing in tick yard treatment and other forms of pest control as necessary ensures that your home is not harbouring any unwelcome critters that might pose a threat (whether directly or indirectly) to your baby. Don’t try to take care of the problem yourself, though – any poison you attempt to use could be accidentally ingested by your child instead.
3. Check Up on Your Boiler
For a home to be truly safe, all of its heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems must be functioning well. Your boiler is a particularly critical sub-system to look into because babies are extremely sensitive to temperature changes; if your boiler fails, you might have trouble keeping your child warm enough for them to stay comfortable and could even put them at risk for hypothermia.
Consider having a professional visit and give your boiler a tune-up before you bring your baby home, and make sure you know exactly who to call if you do run into any issues afterwards. The boiler repair experts at LS1 Boilers offer emergency boiler repair London residents can count on, so they’re a great choice when you’re in a pinch.
Nothing is more important to a parent than keeping their child safe; you shouldn’t take any chances with yours. Taking the time to carry out these three household safety precautions will eliminate often-overlooked threats and help make your home a safe haven for your beloved newborn.