Household Safety Check Points for Your Kids and Pets

On By Maggie S.In Homeowner Maintenance, Learn

Having pets or kids in the house is a blessing. It also requires attention to what’s in your home and what you bring into your space. We’ll help you think though potential hazards in the home and how to address them. Providing safety and comfort in your home is so important. Let’s jump into household safety precautions you can take in your home for peace of mind.

Children:

You’ll definitely want to do a good amount of research when prepping your home for kids. We aren’t an exhaustive voice on this, just one of many that can help you discover tips for safety. Check out our resource on baby proofing your home to get started.

I like the way the National Health Council has you think through child safety. They highlight 4 high-risk zones:

  • Water
  • Heat/Flame
  • Toxic substances
  • Potential for a fall

A lot of issues stem from these dangers listed above and thinking about where they are in your home is important. Thinking about how they play out uniquely in your home is the key to preventing injury or harm to your child. Take some time to evaluate your home and adjust according to your space and children in the home.

Typical trouble spots in your home that need covered or to be locked are: electrical outlets, cabinets with chemicals and/or medication in them, sharp edges of tables/other items in the home, door knobs, dressers, or tippable furniture, toilet seats, blind cords, long drapes or things hug on the wall that can be pulled from a child’s height, areas with sharp kitchen tools or weapons, etc. Here are some more in-depth safety home measures to integrate into your action plan.

Beyond thinking about the layout of your home and making dangerous things safe or untouchable for babies or children, you’ll also want to consider what you use in your home around your child.

Think through your cleaning materials, you may want to switch to an ecofriendly cleaner or use something natural to reduce harsh chemical use in your home. Or if you do use deep cleaners ensuring that you close the door so kids don’t go in and also ventilate the space with a fan or by opening a window.

Here’s to a safe home for your kiddos! Be sure to check out more resources on the subject! Now we’ll look at some pet safety in the home.

Pets:

Let’s start with some pet and children together safety tips.

Be sure to constantly monitor children below the age of 5 around pets. Teach them how to safely interact with animals: to be gentle, not invade their space (no forced petting), and learn to read the animals body language. Teach kids to wash their hands after playing with animals, taking them outside, or feeding them.

puppy getting it's teeth brushed

Keep your animals healthy with clean environment, taking them to the vet regularly, and giving them necessary medications. Watch kids around litter boxes, keep them out of reach of small children and pick up animal poop from your yard where kids play to protect from worms and other issues. Read more about keeping your kids and animals safe in the same home here.

Now, let’s check out some specifics for pet safety:

Many safety precautions you take for kids will overlap for pets: block access to chemicals, foods, medicine, gum, certain essential oils, etc. Check out more ways to pet proof your home by room.

You have to think more about the exterior of your home with pets as we don’t typically watch them as closely. Be mindful of the following:

  • Oil or antifreeze leaks from your car. Clean them up quickly as they toxic to your pet.
  • When you spray for bugs, plant something new, or use landscaping chemicals. Try to be pesticide free and use pet/child safe sprays. Look up plants to ensure they aren’t poison to pets.
  • Look for holes made by rodents to fill or fill holes your pet dug.
  • Check your yard periodically for trash, food bits, harmful items that may have blown or been tossed into your yard.
  • Give your pets access to water outside in the hot weather, especially if they are outside for long stretches of time or live outside.

We hope this helps you prep your home for pets, or improve pet safety in your home. For further reading check out this pet safety in the home resource.