How to Childproof Your Home During a Renovation?

By
Kimberly Crawford
-

Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by Kimberly Crawford

Renovating a home that people reside in can pose a lot of risk, especially if children are living in it. There might be tools lying around that could hurt them or materials that could cut, injure, or even fall on them.

Children are naturally curious, and it’s common for parents to pay extra attention to them, even when they are using things that are generally considered safe, such as toys. For instance, if you bought them an Elektra hoverboard for kids, you will still want to make sure they are using it in a safe environment.

In the same way, you need to pay keener attention during renovations and ensure your children do not get exposed to a hazardous environment. Let’s go through some of the steps you can take to minimize the danger. 

What Are Some of the Risks Renovation Poses?

During renovation, several instances or things could potentially happen, including burns, falls, or poisoning. It is therefore critical that the building is tidy and, if possible, keeps all the areas organized.

Keep everything in consideration, from power leads to power points, and take note of unused tools, heaters, fireplaces, animal foods, animals, tool belts, and so on. All of these pose potential dangers to children, especially under the age of five. 

Tripping hazards are also quite common. For starters, avoid placing things along commonly used paths in the house.

Additionally, avoid placing rugs at the bottom or top of stairwells, and if your carpet is worn out, ensure you replace it. You can also install child-friendly handrails to ensure your kids can support themselves when going up or down the stairs. 

Is It Possible to Renovate Your Home with Your Family?

Your home might seem lovely now, but when the walls are off, and there is dust all over the place, it could be harmful to your children. Yes, you can renovate your home as your family still resides in it. So, how do you go about it and prevent risks? 

At first, you should ensure that the condition of the house is suitable for renovation, and then list the risks that your renovation poses, whether it’s asbestos, dust, lead paint, or mold. Once you have noticed the dangers, you might want to renovate in stages. Pick out the area where the work is going on and isolate it until the renovations are complete. 

Secondly, you need to think like a child and assess what is within your reach, what looks tempting, and all the places where your child might go or climb when you are not around.

It might help to get down to knee level so you can see at eye level what your toddler would likely see, so you are more likely to notice potential risks. 

Safety Features to Put into Consideration 

All sockets should be high to cut down on the risk of electrical leads dangling. There should be safety plugs if the sockets are unused, and if there is an oven or a stovetop that has controls at the back, ensure that the children cannot reach them with their hands. 

Drawers and cupboards are the other causes of concern, so you need to ensure they all have locks. Keep away drawstring bags and plastic, and if possible, keep them all in high drawers or cabinets that have latches. The same should be done for glassware. 

Kitchen Safety

They say the kitchen is usually the heart of every home; however, it is also the place where some of the most dangerous tools are kept. Begin by keeping the knives and sharp utensils out of reach.

If you use pots and pans, keep them with the handles facing down. There should always be a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and more importantly, adults in the home should be properly trained to use it.

Keep track of where you store your toxic household supplies, these include detergent pods, cleaning supplies, and vitamins. Ensure you lock them all up. If your child is sitting in a high chair, it is very important that he or she is wearing a harness.

Avoid using tablecloths, as children with small hands can grab hold of them and pull them. This can be dangerous if there are dishes on the table, as they can fall and hurt them.  

Bathroom Safety

There is quite a lot to do in this room. To begin with, ensure there are non-skid bath mats on the floor and in the tub to prevent people from falling. Keep the cosmetics and medicines out of reach; this includes the hair dryers and other electrical appliances.

Drowning is also a risk, so ensure that you are always in the room and never leave them alone in there. Toilet seat locks prevent toddlers from drowning, and also remember to use door knob covers on the bathroom doors.

Can Kids Have Fun While Renovation Is in Progress?

Children love nothing more than having fun, and renovation will not hold them back. You might need to pick a room that will purposefully be the child zone and keep them off the other areas.

Make it a haven for them and install what they might need, including toys, books, or even a TV. Safety gates help protect them from danger, and they should be able to sleep and rest in the room if they are tired.

More Tips to Childproof Your Home 

  • Avoid placing furniture that can be climbed close to windows.
  • If your home has stairs, use gates to limit access. This prevents your little ones from tumbling down the stairs.
  • Tall and heavy furniture should be securely fastened; you can even attach it to the walls.
  • There are certainly sharp corners in some of the furniture we own; these should be covered with corner cushions.
  • Other sharp objects and electrical cords should be kept out of reach.
  • Windows should have locks so that children cannot get out of them.
  • Ensure your home has carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and remember to also change the batteries. 
  • Shorten the blind and even the dangling cords. Looped cords are especially hazardous as they can wrap around a toddler’s neck and create a strangulation hazard. All cables should be out of reach, and if possible, install a tie-down device.  

Conclusion

Even after installing all these safety measures, teaching your children about safety is always a win and is one of the first steps in ensuring they avoid the dangers of renovations. Make it as fun as possible and help them identify all the dangers that have the potential to cause them harm. The good thing about these lessons is that once they have learned them, they will protect themselves from these dangers forever.

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