WHEN your child already learns how to crawl and move a lot, you are probably forced to move out the bed from your room and just sleep in a mattress with foam on the floor. That is one of the traditional ways of childproofing your room.
Kids can be extremely curious and uncontrollable. They can go from here to there in the blink of an eye. So whether you like it or not, you need to childproof your house.
I could still remember how my father made a “harang” and placed it on our door so my younger brother could not escape from our house. The wooden “harang” which was about 2-feet high. It helped my parents be at ease because my brother would just roam around our sala and would never attempt to go out.
Aside from the living room, we also need to childproof the bathroom, kitchen, car, crib, etc. It is a must.
There are child-deterrent products that are available in stores that would contribute to your parenting hacks.
I found these safety plugs or outlet covers to keep our daughter from accessing power plugs and sockets. It has 12 pieces for only P109.75 which I bought at Baby Company in SM City Davao in Ecoland. The package comes with a long list of warnings which include— that if it fits loosely or if it falls, it is best to be examined by a licensed electrician to avoid risks of overheating; that adults should still supervise children at all times to prevent gaining access to energized outlets; and that wall outlets and face plates must be installed correctly with no gaps formed in between.
Aside from that, I also found corner cushion guards that protect children from sharp corners and hard edges. It‘s an L-shaped pre-taped corner guard for only P349.75 and already comes in eight pieces. The package states that the item is that it is non-toxic (free of phthalates, latex, mercury, lead, heavy metals, BPA, and flame retardants.)
It’s easy to install. Just clean and dry the area you wish to install it into, like the corners of table, then remove the double-sided tape and place them to the corners, pressing the cushion firmly.
These steps worked for us. Of course, it also requires adult supervision to completely keep our children safe at home. Parents’ instinct and common sense teach us how to effectively childproof our house. Just like the saying that goes, “Experience is the best teacher.”
[The writer will appreciate comments, questions, and story suggestions. Contact her through ara3casas@yahoo.com, Ara Casas-Tumuran on Facebook, and @tumuranfamily on Instagram.]