Kids are naturally curious and don’t have a full awareness of potentially dangerous situations. During the daytime, we have to be vigilant at all times to make sure our little ones are not trying to eat or play with something that they shouldn’t.
Continually monitoring your child can be very tiring, so most parents breathe a sigh of relief when their little ones go down for their evening sleep. At some point, you might even think it is safe to go to sleep yourself, but that doesn’t mean your work is done. There are many things to keep in mind before going to bed to ensure everyone sleeps safe and sound.
Develop a Routine
As a parent, there are so many things to think about regarding child safety, so the easiest way to keep the home safe at night is to create a routine.
You can even be proactive before your baby arrives by identifying potential hazards around the house. By doing this, you will be better prepared for various milestones in their development such as when they start crawling and trying to eat everything.
Safe Places to Sleep
The bedroom should be a safe place, but it is the place where the vast majority of childhood accidents and injuries occur. In most situations, these accidents could have been avoided.
No matter how old your child is, you should always check their bedroom before putting them to bed to make sure there are no strangulation or suffocation risks.
Childproofing their bedroom is always a good idea! Make sure that there is nothing within reach that they could tangle themselves up in such as cords and curtains.
Windows
During the hot summer months, you might be tempted to leave the windows open to ventilate the room. However, this can lead to accidents if your child wakes up during the night and decides it is nice weather for a climb.
If you have large windows in the kid’s bedroom, then make sure they are closed before putting your child to bed. However, this might not always be practical and make the room stuffy, so think about installing child safety locks or restrictors onto your existing windows. Either way, checking the windows should always be part of the nighttime routine.
Room Temperature
Making sure your children are comfortable at night is essential, as overheating increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Try to keep your child’s room cool during the day, and if you think it is too hot for them at night, then consider letting them sleep in another room, especially in the case of babies.
Before you go to bed, check the room temperature and your child’s temperature to ensure they are comfortable and not too hot.
Stairs
If your child decides to go for a midnight stroll or crawl, then they may be at risk of trips and falls, especially if all the lights are off. Installing safety guards to block access to stairs and certain rooms is a necessary precaution which all families should take before your baby starts crawling.
Before you go to bed, make sure the safety guards are securely placed and locked in position and that there are no tripping hazards, such as toys or wires, between your child’s bed and the toilet.
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