Childproofing by Hazard, With Fixes That Blend In

Childproofing doesn't have to mean a house full of bright plastic. Many of the most important safety measures are invisible once installed, and the visible ones increasingly come in neutral colors and discreet designs. The most useful way to approach it is by hazard rather than by room, because the injuries that send young children to emergency departments fall into a few predictable groups. Get down on your hands and knees to see the house from a toddler's height, then work through the list below.

Tip-overs

The risk: dressers, bookcases and televisions can tip over when children climb on them or pull open drawers. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that tip-overs injure thousands of children every year, and that many of the deaths involve young children and televisions or dressers.

The fix: anchor tall and heavy furniture to the wall with anti-tip straps or brackets, fixed into studs. Most are hidden behind the furniture. Mount flat-screen TVs on the wall, or anchor them to the furniture they stand on and anchor that furniture too. Put heavy items in lower drawers and shelves. US law under the STURDY Act now requires new clothing storage units to meet stability standards, but older furniture still needs anchoring.

Falls

The risk: falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in young children, from stairs, windows and furniture.

The fix: use hardware-mounted safety gates at the top of stairs, since pressure-mounted gates can be pushed out and are designed for doorways and the bottom of stairs. Wooden or metal gates in neutral finishes blend in better than plastic. Install window stops that keep windows from opening more than 4 inches, or window guards with an emergency release on upper floors, and don't rely on screens, which are not strong enough to stop a child. Move furniture children could climb away from windows.

Strangulation

The risk: looped cords on window blinds and curtains can strangle young children in seconds.

The fix: replace corded blinds with cordless or motorized versions, which also look cleaner. If you can't replace them, use cord cleats mounted high on the wall to keep cords well out of reach. Keep cribs and beds away from windows. Baby monitor cords should be at least 3 feet from the crib.

Poisoning

The risk: medicines, cleaning products, laundry detergent pods, alcohol, cosmetics and some houseplants are common causes of poisoning in young children.

The fix: store hazardous products high up and locked. Magnetic cabinet locks are invisible from the outside and opened with a magnetic key. Keep medicines in their original child-resistant containers, and remember that bags, purses and visitors' luggage often contain medicines. Save the Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222 in the US, in your phone.

Small objects and batteries

The risk: button batteries and small, powerful magnets are particularly dangerous if swallowed. A button battery can cause severe internal burns within hours.

The fix: check that remote controls, key fobs, kitchen scales and toys have battery compartments secured with a screw. Store spare batteries locked away and dispose of used ones safely. If you suspect a child has swallowed a button battery or magnet, go to an emergency department immediately. A practical test for choking hazards is whether an object fits through a toilet paper tube.

Burns and scalds

The fix: set your water heater to 120°F (about 49°C) or lower, as recommended by the CPSC, to reduce the risk of scalds. Use the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles inward. Stove knob covers and oven locks come in stainless or clear finishes. Keep hot drinks out of reach and away from table edges, and consider a fireplace or radiator guard that matches the room.

Electrical outlets

The fix: tamper-resistant outlets, now required in new US homes by the National Electrical Code, have internal shutters that block objects from being inserted and look like ordinary outlets. In older homes, sliding outlet covers that replace the faceplate are safer than removable plastic plugs, which can become choking hazards.

Water

The risk: young children can drown in just a few inches of water, including bathtubs, buckets, toilets and pools.

The fix: never leave a young child alone in the bath, even for a moment. Empty buckets and basins right after use. Toilet locks help with curious toddlers. Pools should be surrounded by four-sided fencing at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

Sharp edges and doors

Clear corner guards fit coffee tables and hearths without hiding the design. Door stoppers and finger-pinch guards protect small hands, and lever locks on doors keep children out of bathrooms, laundry rooms and garages.

Furniture and furnishings to watch

Some household items are easy to overlook. Toy chests should have no lid or a lid with a support that holds it open in any position, since heavy lids can fall on children or trap them inside. Bean bag chairs with zippers should have child-resistant zippers, since children have suffocated after climbing inside and inhaling the filling. Recliners and sleeper sofas can trap a child underneath the mechanism. Glass-topped tables should use tempered glass, and freestanding mirrors should be anchored.

Safe sleep

For babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing infants on their backs to sleep, on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard that meets current safety standards, with no pillows, blankets, bumpers or soft toys. Weighted sleep sacks and inclined sleepers are not recommended.

Decor choices that help

• Choose rounded furniture edges and stable, heavy-based lamps.
• Use washable rugs with non-slip pads underneath.
• Display fragile decor on high shelves and keep lower shelves for books and toys.
• Store toys in low, open bins without heavy lids that can fall on fingers.
• Choose window treatments and furniture with safety in mind when replacing them.

Childproofing works best as an ongoing habit. Children's abilities change quickly, and a fresh look at the house every few months, especially as they start crawling, climbing and opening things, catches new hazards. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level and near bedrooms complete the basics.