An apartment can be a great place for a kid to grow up. You can create
familiar surroundings for your child, and he or she can make friends
with neighbor children to develop social skills. But apartments can be
dangerous as well.
If you have a young child in an apartment, you’ll need to make sure that
the apartment is safe. Of course, accidents happen, and few children
get through life without a few bumps and bruises, but there are
definitely ways to minimize these situations as well as prevent even
more serious injuries. Here are some child safety tips to consider for
apartment living.
Child Safety Tips No. 1: Cords and Sockets
Unlike a house, apartments are controlled by higher management and the
buildings are not always kept up to your personal standards. If you live
in an older building, electrical sockets might be even more of a
concern, as the electricity infrastructure is equally aged and not
always predictable.
One of the most important child safety tips to consider is making your
apartment electrocution proof. Keep all cords out of sight: preferably
secured to the wall. Keep all unused sockets covered. Make sure your
children understand that they are not to touch sockets or pull cords.
Child Safety Tips No. 2: Dangerous Areas
Windows and doors always present a problem for small children who are
just learning to walk and those who are keen to explore their
surroundings. Whether it’s to protect them from wandering away and
getting lost, or from taking a spill down the stairs, off of a landing
or over a balcony — you need to take precaution.
If you live on the upper floor of a multi-level building these danger
zones are of utmost importance. Ensure that windows have childproof
locks if they are within the child’s reach, and look into front door and
screen doors with a lock too high for a child to reach. Gates and bars
are an extra measure of defense you can take as well in dangerous areas.
If you have a balcony, make sure all openings are properly sealed with
netting, gates, or wood. Be mindful of patio furniture that would be
easy for a child to climb on. Keep furniture as far from the edges as
possible. Children should never be left on the balcony alone under any
circumstances.
Child Safety Tips No. 3: Plants, Chemicals and Medicines
No discussion of child safety tips for your apartment would be complete
without mentioning the fact that kids love to put things in their
mouths. Tasting is an instinctive way to experiment that may have served
our ancestors well, but can put our children in serious danger.
In your own apartment it’s easier to keep dangerous medicines, plants
and chemicals out of your children’s reach but when you live in a
building with other people, your child’s safety may not be everyone’s
primary concern.
Some plants are toxic when eaten so if you’re not sure whether plants in
outdoor areas are toxic, ask the landlord what they are or keep your
child away from them. Likewise, household chemicals can be extremely
dangerous when ingested so be mindful of other people leaving toxic
chemicals lying out in storage areas, garages, or even near their
apartment entrances. Ask your neighbors to remove any chemicals they may
have visible in public areas to minimize risk of your child ingesting
them.
It is also important to be aware of chipping paint. This is typically
another concern associated with older buildings, but sometimes the fresh
paint they gave you might not have been the best job. Corners and
molding near the floor can often times be overlooked, leaving
potentially lead based paint chips around for small children to play
with, or put in their mouths. If you notice chipping paint, speak with
your landlord immediately to resolve the issue.
Child Safety Tips No. 4: Strangers
Even if you teach your child not to talk to strangers, it can be a bit
more confusing to them in an apartment building. It is a good idea to
introduce yourself and your child to all of your neighbors. This will
ensure that your child can better differentiate between a neighbor and a
stranger, and associates yourself and significant other with the child.
It also puts your child on your neighbors’ radars so that they are more
likely to notice trouble more quickly. If someone knows you and your
child, they will definitely be aware if they see your child with anyone
else.
Instruct your child not to enter another resident’s apartment without
your permission. Your child will probably want to greet residents of the
building that he or she sees frequently, and this is fine, but warn
them to be careful around people they don’t recognize. Even if you have a
courtyard that you think is safe, never let your children play out
there unattended. It’s simply too big a risk to their safety.
source www.rent.com
