Spring Clean: Easy Home Safety Checklist

This home safety checklist is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Window Covering Safety Council. All opinions are 100% mine.

Regular home safety checks are something we put into practice when we started having little ones running around. Let’s be honest, as parents we have a million things on our minds, at any given minute, when it comes to how we are raising our kids. While there are things in life that we can’t anticipate, our children’s safety begins in the home with things that are 100% within our control. What better time to bust out the safety checklist then when you are doing your annual spring clean. Let’s get started!

Disclaimer: we are constantly modifying and making our home safe daily, but we intentionally go through this extensive home safety checklist throughout the year to make sure everything is up to date and exactly how it should be.

6 Areas in Need of a Home Safety Check

1. Kitchen

• Check your smoke alarms & carbon monoxide alarms. (Test all batteries.)
• Go over (or create) your home fire safety plan. (You should have 2 ways out of each room in case of a fire. You could do fire drills with your kids so that they have the route options memorized.)
• Add childproof latches/locks on your cabinets. (This will keep them from harmful cleaning products, or trying to climb into drawers and cupboards.)
• Install caps on all of your outlets when you aren’t using them.

2. Bathroom

• Medicine Safety – keep all medicine out of reach. Install childproof latches/locks to cabinets if needed.
• Write out clear instructions on medicine bottles to reference when needed. (This can come in handy with babysitters.)
• Make sure you have a non-slip mat in your bathtub to prevent falling.
• You can install faucet covers and tub knobs for added protection.
• Install caps on all of your outlets when you aren’t using them.
• Make sure all electrical items are no where near your sink and tub.

Did you know corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in American Homes?

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

3. Windows

• Replace any/all corded window coverings with cordless products. (They can be a potential strangulation hazard for infants and young children.)

• Need to replace old blinds or install new ones? Going cordless is easier than ever before! A recent US Safety Standard requires that all stock products be cordless, or have inaccessible cords. You can also look for products marked with the Best for Kids™ certification label.  Products with the Best for Kids™ label have gone through third party testing and are designed for use in homes with young kids. Look for the Best for Kids logo on products – available at all major US retailers.

• Keep furniture away from windows (don’t give your children anything to climb on near a window.)
• Install window guards, locks or stops to prevent accidental falls.
• Install alarm sensors so you know when windows are being opened.

4. Stairs & Doors

• Install door knob covers on any doors that your children should not be alone in.
• Another option would be to add additional locks near the top (out of reach) of outside of the doors that you can lock when you want that room to be off limits.
• Install Safety Gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs.
• Consider adding a carpeted runner or non-slip treads to prevent falls.
• Keep stairs clear of all clutter.

5. Living Room & Bedrooms

• Use brackets, braces or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall.
• Consider wall mounting your flat panel TV. If you have a large box TV make sure that the table that it is on is stable and that the TV is secure.
• Look for and remove small decor items that are at your child’s eye level. (Potential strangulation hazard.)
• Install caps on all of your outlets when you aren’t using them.

6. Back Yard

• Keep all yard tools and chemical treatment products in shed or area not accessible to your kids.
• If your yard is fenced in, do a perimeter check to make sure all boards are secure.
• If your yard has a gate, make sure that the lock is out of reach of your children.
• Make sure grills and fire pits are not accessible to kids.
• Consider a lock for your water hose.

When it comes to safety a lot of these check list items go hand-in-hand with taking the time to sit down and talk things through with your kids, letting them know their boundaries and what things require adult supervision.

As we all know, our little ones are sponges, they soak up information at top speeds and its our job to educate them on why they should or shouldn’t do things. If we install a new safety measure in our home we often explain why it is important, I find especially with the older kids, that this gives them a sense of ownership in keeping the family safe. They become more aware and it often gives them the instinct to look out for the younger ones.