It’s a normal Thursday morning, and you’re merrily playing with your toddler in the living room. They’re in a good mood, you’re in a good mood, and in this moment it feels like nothing in the world could burst your perfect little bubble of family tranquillity.

You notice a little chill in the air and decide to turn the heating on. You turn away for just a moment to adjust the thermostat. All of a sudden, a huge crashing sound erupts behind you. You whip around to see the pile of books that were resting on the coffee table all over the floor and your toddler screaming their head off.

A million questions race through your mind. What have I done? Did my little one hurt themselves? How could I have prevented this from happening? Should I call an ambulance?

When you have a toddler, these types of incidents are obviously very frightening. The house is full of hazards, but it doesn’t have to be if you learn how to toddler-proof your home.

But before we delve into how you can effectively do this, let’s learn more about why it’s so crucial:

Why is it important to toddler-proof my home?

Toddlers are curious little creatures. They’re at a stage where they love to explore and learn new things. And as they’re so young, a lot of their exploring is obviously going to be in the home!

While it might feel like your home is the safest place in the world for them to be, as you can keep a beady eye on them at all times, there are many common dangers they may come into contact with while they’re exploring that can pose a threat. Dangers related to climbing, choking, falling and poisoning in rooms like the bathroom, the bedrooms, the kitchen, the laundry room, and the garage.

This isn’t intended to scare you but to simply make you aware that many common dangers exist within the house. By becoming more attuned to these kinds of dangers, you can begin to help protect your child to the best of your ability by toddler-proofing your surroundings.

Remember, the thing about little children is that they won’t know that something is dangerous the first time they try it, as their behaviour won’t yet have been challenged. So, the first time that they drop their toy in the loo or try to climb onto the counter remember that they are simply exploring. These opportunities give you a chance to put them right (in the kindest possible way) so that they remember for next time!

Now that we know why toddler-proofing your house is so important let’s explore the ways in which you can go about it!

How can I toddler-proof my home?

First of all, remember that while your house will be different to that of other families, there are some hazards that will be more prominent in your house than others, or vice versa. But even though each family’s circumstances will differ, there are general hazards that most parents need to look out for – related to climbing, choking, falling, and poisoning.

Follow these points to effectively toddler-proof your home:

Get down on your knees and try to look at things from your child’s height. This will help you see what hazards might be interesting from their perspective and what’s potentially within their reach. Remember, even if it doesn’t seem immediately obvious that a child might be able to reach up to a certain cupboard or shelf, children are clever! They will stack up cushions and books to reach up high.

Keep poisonous items such as medicines, vitamins, paints, glues, pet food and litter, and insecticides locked away out of reach.

Remember that medicines can be hazardous – as pills can often appear like sweets.

Handbags should also be placed out of reach. These can carry toiletries, pills, and other choking hazards like coins.

Make sure that the cords on any blinds are short, as these can cause strangulation.

Ensure all sockets are covered, as these can cause electrocution.

Place safety catches on all cupboards in the house so that your child can’t get their hands on plastic bags, knives, office supplies, etc.

Put a safety gate at the top of your stairs, as your toddler may accidentally fall down them.

Overall, even after you’ve effectively toddler-proofed your house, remember that leaving a toddler unattended in the home at any point is dangerous, as they can’t tell the difference between what’s safe and what’s dangerous. Never leave your toddler alone when in the house, even for a moment!

How do I toddler-proof my home?

Create a safe environment for your toddler with Unii’s tips.