December 23rd, 2010 
We only live in a small apartment where the living room, dining room and the kitchen are all in one area. Even though our apartment is a bit spacious for the three of us, its still not safe for my Little Zoie to play especially when she found a clear floor spot to spread more toys next to the kitchen counter. Also, one of her favorite is when she runs around that area when I’m cooking or simply cleaning the kitchen.
In this instances, she’ll give me heart attack when something bad happens (thank GOD, nothing bad is happening). Anyway, it’s still best to take precautionary measures to not let anything happen. Just like a saying…‘Better SAFE than SORRY!’
We need to childproof our kitchen… here are some tips shared by babycenter.com:
- Keep detergents, pesticides, cleaning products, and any other toxic household chemicals locked up, preferably in a out-of-reach storage areas or use a safety gate to keep him out of the kitchen.
- Consider switching from hazardous chemicals such as chlorine bleach to safer products such as non-chlorine bleach, vinegar, borax, beeswax, mineral oil, and compressed-air drain openers.
- Buy products (including kitchen chemicals as well as vitamins and medications) with child-resistant caps, and keep everything in its original container. Take note: Never transfer a hazardous product into a generic container or, worse yet, a food container, as this could lead to a dangerous mix-up.
- Store knives and other sharp kitchen tools, such as food processor blades, in latched drawers or high cabinets. Peelers, graters, and other kitchen utensils can also be sharp and should be treated just like knives. Even your glasswares and chinas should also be stored high up.
- Move your electrical appliance such as toaster, rice cooker and the likes, out of your child’s reach. Unplug them and hide the cords when they’re not in use.
- Never leave glassware, knives, or hot food and beverages unattended on counters or tables, not even for a few moments. Don’t use placemats or tablecloths, because a child can pull them — and their contents — down on himself.
- Keep fire extinguishers near the stove, barbecue, and anywhere there’s a risk of fire. Make sure you know how to use the extinguishers, but only attempt to put out a fire if it’s small and contained. Otherwise, get your children out of the house and call the fire department from a neighbor’s home.
- If your sink has a disposal, keep a lid on it when your child is nearby and make sure his small hands don’t get near it. You may want to equip your kitchen faucet with an anti-scald device.
- Keep a lid on your trash can. Store recyclable cans and bottles in bins or bags out of your child’s reach. Dispose of anything else that’s dangerous — such as sharp metal can lids or broken glass — by taking it immediately out to the trash.
- Set aside at least one cabinet for your child to open and explore. Pick a cabinet that’s not too close to the stove and oven, and fill it with safe but interesting objects, such as lightweight saucepans, wooden spoons, foil pie plates, and empty yogurt containers. This should keep your child happily distracted, and he’ll probably be less inclined to empty the other cabinets — unless you leave the doors open. Change the contents occasionally to give him a surprise.
- If you can’t count on your child to play safely while you’re cooking, consider putting up a safety gate to keep him out of the kitchen and creating an activity area for him nearby. That way, he can be part of the action and safe at the same time.
These are great tips to keep our child safe while they move around the kitchen. Now, I’m searching the net what safety gate should I install in my certain areas of the house. While I’m at it, I remember I need to compare those life insurance rates I got, better check them before the year ends.
Better SAFE than SORRY!
