Guest Post!! Keeping Your Kids Safe.

Top 5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe (For Less)
All parents want to provide the safest environment for their kids, and there are certainly a lot of companies out there claiming to have the best products to keep your family safe.  But let’s face it, kids are expensive enough as it is and most of us are on a budget!  Plus, do you really need an antibacterial shopping cart cover to take your baby to the grocery store?  Or a cushion to stop them from rolling over?  There are a lot of products that will cost you a lot but do very little good, but there are a few essentials that will give you a lot of bang for your buck.

1. Baby gates – when babies start moving, they will try to go everywhere, including down the stairs.  Sure, you can get elaborate or high end gates to keep your kids from going where they shouldn’t, but they’re all pretty much the same.  The $20 version will provide a baby-proof barrier just as well as its pricier counterparts, so save your money for diapers.
2. Door latches – as your kids get to be toddlers, they will begin to climb and open cabinets.  You can get all kinds of spiffy, complex latches on websites that cater to safety-seeking moms (and mark up their prices accordingly) or you can go to your local harware store and get some plastic ones for way less.
3. Safety covers for outlets – the best way to stop kids from sticking fingers and other objects into the outlets is to get some easy-to-install plastic covers.  They fit right into the outlet and practically require a prybar to remove, so there’s no chance junior will be able to pop them out and get into trouble.
4. Handrails – if there are staircases around your home that don’t have handrails, take the time to install one.  They are neither expensive nor difficult to attach and they could save your child from a fatal fall.  Remember that their little legs not only have to step farther to use the stairs, they don’t have the best of balance for the first few years.
5. Fire extinguisher – As your children get older and learn to use the microwave, toaster, and stove, the chance of fire becomes an area of concern.  Keep a fire extinguisher on each level of your home, near an exit.  Make sure that your kids know how to use one by teaching this simple anagram: P-A-S-S.  PULL the pin.  AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire.  SQUEEZE the trigger.  SWEEP the base of the fire.

You can easily spend a lot of money to make your house kid-safe, but you really don’t need every item on the market.  These few simple fixes will make your home a lot safer and most of them are less than $30 (the handrail will probably run $50 and up, depending on the materials you choose). To determine if you need other safety products, just use some common sense and keep an eye on your children to assess their individual safety needs.


Jennifer Kardish is a communications coordinator at Kitchen Cabinets. You can check out their free design tips for your kitchen and home.


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