Families with small, young children need to make sure that certain parts of their house are safe and child friendly. There are many parts of the “plumbing world” that are dangerous and hazardous should safety not be prioritised. We asked the guys at Plumber Northamptonshire to list the areas parents and carers need to think about most to ensure their children stay out of harm’s way.
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Bathtime: Baths are notoriously slippery when wet. You should use an anti slip bath mat as well as a bath grab bar. Anything to help remove the slip danger from the bath whilst your child is seated or standing within it. They are removable, (reliant on suction to hold them in place), so do not need to be there when adults want to use it.
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Sinks: If possible it would be a great idea to fit a child sink somewhere for them to use. They are smaller/lower and do not require children to stand on anything to reach and use them. If this is not practical you could always find a safe way for your child to be able to reach up to a normal sized one. Remember to supervise children when they are unsteady and using something to help them reach the sink and that what they are standing/kneeling on to do it is sturdy and stable. Tap extenders can also help with children who may struggle to reach them to operate them safely.
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Water Temperature: This needs to be checked for baths and washing to make sure it is not too hot or cold for the baby/child who is in it. The elbow is a great way to test if it is too hot or cold. A baby has especially sensitive skin so making sure you use your elbow or a thermometer that is waterproof is essential. Teaching older children to check bath water before getting in, maybe using toes, helps protect them from scalding themselves.
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Toilets: Toilet seat locks will help stop children from lifting seats up to fall in or play with the water once they start to become inquisitive around the toilet area. Also you can use seat adapters to make sure they are able to sit down without falling through the bigger seat if they are small. Holding them when they are just starting to use the toilet is also important as they may not be used to balancing that high up.
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Radiators: When hot these can leave nasty burns on children. The pipes too, if exposed, can also burn when the radiators are on and heating your house. You would be wise to look at radiator guards for radiators in the rooms that smaller children are using. You can also find pipe guards in most DIY stores.
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Boilers: Simply put, you must have a working CO2 detector near where you have your boiler. This gas is deadly should it leak, not just for children but for the adults in the home too. They are inexpensive yet like smoke alarms, may well save your lives.
Safety might seem like something that you need not worry about, after all it will never happen to you right? Well thousands every year think the same and end up in accident and emergency ….or worse. Please make sure that you take the time to risk assess the various plumbing hazards in your home, and put preventative strategies in place to make sure that your children are safe.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
This post is informative! Very helpful. additionally, Childproofing toilets is a crucial safety measure to prevent accidents in the bathroom. Installing toilet seat locks and seat adapters ensures that young children can use the toilet securely, while supervision during their initial toilet training helps them adapt to the higher seat height safely.