.... but the solutions will be DIY.

I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.

There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.

Any ideas appreaciated & TIA

Alex.

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:15:31 +0100, AlexW  wrote:


>... but the solutions will be DIY.
>
>I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
>who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
>
>There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
>thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
>might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
>
>Any ideas appreaciated & TIA
>
>Alex.

I guess you're going to get a big list coming your way anytime now - but just
something simple: don't leave anything lying around within reach, esp on the
floor. If they can grab it they'll try to put it in their mouth! A bit later on
they try poking things in electrical power sockets. A few years later they get
fingers stuck in various object in which there are holes just a bit too small to
get the finger out again. A bit later on they try acrobatics on the towel rail
in the bathroom (either get a very strong rail of mount it way up high). Later
on they'll worry you silly by staying out too late - but by now, sorry, you're
on your own!  I have deliberately left out many in-between "laters" for other to
add, as reliving them is very painful :-) (In the nicest possible way)

AlexW wrote:


> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old
> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
> 
> There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just
> thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I
> might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
> 

If you have a staircase, you will want a safety gate at the top - but
having one at the _bottom_ is just as important!
Make sure that all cleaning supplies and medicines are well out of reach,
and put child-proof safety latches on the kitchen cupboards.
Keep all sharp tools out of reach - and remember that children will climb
to get to things.  There are flat knife blocks which mount to the underside
of a kitchen cabinet, and swivel out for access.
Make sure that the cords of all electrical things, like lamps, radios, TVs,
etc, are neatly tucked away, where the child can't pull on them.

In article <43218afa$0$18644$14726298@news.sunsite.dk>, AlexW 
 writes

>... but the solutions will be DIY.
>
>I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
>who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing 
>position.
>
>There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but 
>just thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things 
>I might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the 
>house.
>

Don't get too carried away and try to make your house super safe, the 
best lessons hurt a bit... anyway toddlers are good at having 
spectacular accidents in ways you never thought of.

We just did: stair gate at the top, sharp objects up high. Youngest 
child is now 2 and is good at recognising hazards, which she probably 
wouldn't be if we'd taken all the dangers away.
-- 
Tim Mitchell

You know those mains connectors that plug in to the back of radios and
CD players and such like? The ones that if you look end-on it looks
like a
figure of eight shape.

I once watched one of my kids inquisitively pick up the cable and
proceed
(as they do) to stick the socket end in his mouth.

The dash for the kid was fast enough; the sigh as I found that the
other end was not
plugged in was grateful; the lesson was not to leave such cables
around.

Mungo

[This was in the days of a non-RCD mains supply. Having lived with a
new fuse
box for a couple of years I only have praise for the RCD that I
commissioned on
the box.]

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:15:31 +0100, AlexW  wrote:


> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old  
> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing  
> position.


I know there are people who will sneer, but IKEA produce a quite  
respectable range of child safety products, from gates for stairwells to  
rounded bump-stops for coffee-table corners.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=7&categoryId=13756&langId=-20&parentCats=10106*13756&chapterId=13759&cattype=sub

should work or visit the root page and Ask Anna (in the options) about  
Child Safety.

Mothercare is another port of call, try entering "safety" in their search  
engine.

http://www.mothercare.com

John Schmitt

-- 
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

AlexW wrote:


> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
> 
> There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
> thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
> might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
> 
> Any ideas appreaciated & TIA


In the end much will depend on the small person in question! Some will 
find danger *anywhere* no matter what you do. Others seem resonably 
content not getting into too much mischief. You can only nanny so far, 
and the more ingenious sprogs will find ways round most measures you put 
in place that stop them doing what they want! Alas there is no 
substitute for vigilance and education in many cases.

(ISTR, as a child the ususal "putting out of reach" gambit was played as 
a way of keeping "stuff" out of my hands. I just returned fire with the 
"your did not think to put the extending hoover pipes out of reach 
though did you? And with those anything under 7' up is mine!" 
circumvention).

Some stuff is easy - child proof catches on low cupboards etc. Keeping 
household chemicals out of access.

Baby gate at the top of the stairs, and one at the bottom perhaps (we 
never bothered, but did not give them free run of the hall either). They 
are also a mixed blessing since you need to negotiate the things while 
carrying stuff (and sprog!) without going base over apex down the stairs 
yourself).

As part of laying on electrical provision for my loft, I also upgraded 
all of the CUs etc and made sure that all the circuit protection and 
earthing was upto modern standards. So hopefully they won't go fiddling 
with sockets etc, but if they do, the danger is reduced a little. 
Personally I have not been convinced by those socket protector things. 
The flat low profile ones are a bu**ger to remove when you want to use 
the socket yourself. The sitcky-out "use the earth pin on a plug to pull 
em free type" seem to encourage them to take interest in the sockets in 
the first place! I would get shot of any round pin unshuttered sockets 
if you have them though. Same goes for any knackered face plates that do 
not have an effective shutter.

Not having the water temperature set to "volcano heat" can help.

Turning off the supply to rarely used gas fires may be worthwile.


-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

John Schmitt wrote:

> On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:15:31 +0100, AlexW  wrote:
> 
>> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month 
>> old  who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing  
>> position.
> 
> 
> I know there are people who will sneer, but IKEA produce a quite  
> respectable range of child safety products, from gates for stairwells 
> to  rounded bump-stops for coffee-table corners.
> 
> http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=7&categoryId=13756&langId=-20&parentCats=10106*13756&chapterId=13759&cattype=sub 
> 
> 
> should work or visit the root page and Ask Anna (in the options) about  
> Child Safety.
> 
> Mothercare is another port of call, try entering "safety" in their 
> search  engine.
> 
> http://www.mothercare.com
> 
> John Schmitt
> 

Not sure - but I expect eBay would be a good source of all things 
child-related as most people only have a short use for such things

AlexW wrote:

> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.


Cross-post this to uk.people.parents - I would,
except that this infernal S/W won't let me.

Look out for high things that can be climbed, then
fallen off, stairs, hot things that can be leant on
(tape lagging to radiator pipes), things (tablecloths,
etc.) that can be pulled, things that fingers/arms/legs
can get stuck in, doors when they close so they don't
pinch or crush fingers, those false "plugs" seem to
encourage interest in pushing things into sockets
IMO, etc., etc. The best thing you can do is to
make sure you keep your eye on him all the time!

John Schmitt wrote:


> to  rounded bump-stops for coffee-table corners.


The limitation of these however is that it does not stop them inverting 
the whole table and using it to surf across the living room, before 
leaving it perched at an interesting angle covered in a blanket (because 
it made a good "den"), supported by nothing more than the edge of a mega 
block, just wating to land on your toe as you attempt to restore order 
to what used to be a living room before it was burried under a 6" layer 
of toys and your video collection!

DAMHIK ;-)


-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:35:19 +0100, John Rumm  
 wrote:


> The limitation of these however is that it does not stop them inverting  
> the whole table and using it to surf across the living room, before  
> leaving it perched at an interesting angle covered in a blanket (because  
> it made a good "den"), supported by nothing more than the edge of a mega  
> block, just wating to land on your toe as you attempt to restore order  
> to what used to be a living room before it was burried under a 6" layer  
> of toys and your video collection!


That sounds like the voice of experience. Don't forget to draw all over  
the lower parts of the walls (crayon and pencil), ram a sandwich into the  
video and hide the remote control. This will save the infant considerable  
time so that he can experiment with the mains switch for the freezer. Keep  
marbles and rollerskates under lock and key.

John Schmitt

-- 
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

In article , John Schmitt 
 writes

>On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:35:19 +0100, John Rumm 
> wrote:
>
>> The limitation of these however is that it does not stop them 
>>inverting   the whole table and using it to surf across the living 
>>room, before   leaving it perched at an interesting angle covered in a 
>>blanket (because   it made a good "den"), supported by nothing more 
>>than the edge of a mega   block, just wating to land on your toe as 
>>you attempt to restore order   to what used to be a living room before 
>>it was burried under a 6" layer   of toys and your video collection!
>
>That sounds like the voice of experience. Don't forget to draw all over 
>the lower parts of the walls (crayon and pencil), ram a sandwich into 
>the  video and hide the remote control. This will save the infant 
>considerable  time so that he can experiment with the mains switch for 
>the freezer. Keep  marbles and rollerskates under lock and key.
>

Also take all your CDs and DVDs out of the cases and spread over the 
floor. For added effect, add jammy fingerprints on the pretty silver 
side.
-- 
Tim Mitchell

mungoh@gmail.com wrote:

> You know those mains connectors that plug in to the back of radios and
> CD players and such like? The ones that if you look end-on it looks
> like a
> figure of eight shape.
> 
> I once watched one of my kids inquisitively pick up the cable and
> proceed
> (as they do) to stick the socket end in his mouth.
> 
> The dash for the kid was fast enough; the sigh as I found that the
> other end was not plugged in was grateful


> [This was in the days of a non-RCD mains supply. Having lived with a
> new fuse box for a couple of years I only have praise for the RCD that I
> commissioned on the box.]


However.
Unless the kid happened to be standing on a metal floor, or hanging onto
a radiator, it's very far from certain that the RCD would trip.
OTOH, I don't think (if promptly unplugged) a 240V shock across the mouth
would be immediately fatal, even to a baby, but it's not going to be 
healthy.

I have noticed that there is a variant of this, with a third lobe, for an
earth pin, which would make an RCD work.

I suspect IEC connectors are probably the most baby-safe of common ones.
(well, the 415V screw-on plugs would probably work too)

AlexW wrote:

> ... but the solutions will be DIY.
> 
> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
> 
> There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
> thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
> might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
> 
> Any ideas appreaciated & TIA
> 
> Alex.


Thanks to all so far ... FYI he's already:

a) Had the coal out of the bucket.
b) Learnt how to tug any electric cables in sight. Heads straight for 
'em ... like a magnetic effect.
c) Same with rad pipes and towel rad!
d) Had videos and DVD's out of drawers.
e) Nearly tugged a shelf unit over.
f) Attempted to eat, well virtually all objects within the house that he 
can reach.

.... to name but a few.

Alex.

On Fri, 9 Sep 2005 13:15:31 UTC, AlexW  wrote:


> ... but the solutions will be DIY.
> 
> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
> 
> There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
> thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
> might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.


Put blanking plates in the power sockets.
Put protective film on low level glass panels.
We never found a childproof lock on the fridge any good; they opened it 
immediately.
Secure the video recorder/DVD player to stop unwanted insertions.
On no account leave mains leads plugged in one end, with a flying IEC 
plug or figure of 8 plug (e.g. electric razor) at the other end. They'll
put them in their mouth!

Lots of others of course...
-- 
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
   http://laminateflooring.oncloud8.com

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:15:31 +0100, AlexW 
wrote:


>... but the solutions will be DIY.
>
>I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
>who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
>
>There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
>thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
>might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
>
>Any ideas appreaciated & TIA


One for the (not to distant) future after the stairgate is removed.

So many houses seem to have the hall radiator at the bottom of the
stairs. I had mine moved (oops, should have said "I moved mine") soon
after my nephew tumbled downstairs and split his head open on the
corner of the radiator in my sister's house. 

Overkill perhaps but I really didn't fancy the aggravation of cleaning
all the blood off the carpet.

-- 
Warning: Do not look directly into laser with remaining eye.

Geoffrey wrote:

> On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:15:31 +0100, AlexW 
> wrote:
> 
> 
>>... but the solutions will be DIY.
>>
>>I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
>>who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing position.
>>
>>There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
>>thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I 
>>might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
>>
>>Any ideas appreaciated & TIA
> 
> 
> One for the (not to distant) future after the stairgate is removed.
> 
> So many houses seem to have the hall radiator at the bottom of the
> stairs. I had mine moved (oops, should have said "I moved mine") soon
> after my nephew tumbled downstairs and split his head open on the
> corner of the radiator in my sister's house. 
> 
> Overkill perhaps but I really didn't fancy the aggravation of cleaning
> all the blood off the carpet.
> 

Good idea ... I have no radiator but easy to clean stone flags there. 
Already planning a (landing) mat for that location.

Alex.

AlexW wrote:

> Geoffrey wrote:
> 
>> On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 14:15:31 +0100, AlexW 
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> ... but the solutions will be DIY.
>>>
>>> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month 
>>> old who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing 
>>> position.
>>>
>>> There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but 
>>> just thought I would throw the question wider in case there are 
>>> things I might have not thought of or clever solutions to problems 
>>> around the house.
>>>
>>> Any ideas appreaciated & TIA
>>
>>
>>
>> One for the (not to distant) future after the stairgate is removed.
>>
>> So many houses seem to have the hall radiator at the bottom of the
>> stairs. I had mine moved (oops, should have said "I moved mine") soon
>> after my nephew tumbled downstairs and split his head open on the
>> corner of the radiator in my sister's house.
>> Overkill perhaps but I really didn't fancy the aggravation of cleaning
>> all the blood off the carpet.
>>
> Good idea ... I have no radiator but easy to clean stone flags there. 
> Already planning a (landing) mat for that location.
> 
> Alex.

Surely the landing mat would be at the top of the stairs :)

"S Viemeister"  wrote in message 
news:43218E75.B548A3B5@which.net...

> AlexW wrote:
>
>> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old
>> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing 
>> position.
>>

> Make sure that all cleaning supplies and medicines are well out of reach,


You can never assume that a toddler can't climb on stools, chairs, toy boxes 
etc. to get to what s/he wants.

There's no such thing as a100% child-safe house :-(

And it gets worse before it gets better!

You have been warned :-)

Mary

"John Rumm"  wrote in message 
news:43219cf8$0$1277$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...

> John Schmitt wrote:
>
>> to  rounded bump-stops for coffee-table corners.
>
> The limitation of these however is that it does not stop them inverting 
> the whole table and using it to surf across the living room, before 
> leaving it perched at an interesting angle covered in a blanket (because 
> it made a good "den"), supported by nothing more than the edge of a mega 
> block, just wating to land on your toe as you attempt to restore order to 
> what used to be a living room before it was burried under a 6" layer of 
> toys and your video collection!


Yes.

And as many other unimaginable disasters ...

A very heavy ball and chain could work ...

Mary

"AlexW"  wrote in message 
news:4321a94e$0$18647$14726298@news.sunsite.dk...

> AlexW wrote:
>> ... but the solutions will be DIY.
>>
>> I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
>> who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing 
>> position.
>>
>> There are plenty of things on my radar (too many to list here), but just 
>> thought I would throw the question wider in case there are things I might 
>> have not thought of or clever solutions to problems around the house.
>>
>> Any ideas appreaciated & TIA
>>
>> Alex.
>
> Thanks to all so far ... FYI he's already:
>
> a) Had the coal out of the bucket.
> b) Learnt how to tug any electric cables in sight. Heads straight for 'em 
> ... like a magnetic effect.
> c) Same with rad pipes and towel rad!
> d) Had videos and DVD's out of drawers.
> e) Nearly tugged a shelf unit over.
> f) Attempted to eat, well virtually all objects within the house that he 
> can reach.


A normal, intelligent child then.

Well done!

Mary

>
> ... to name but a few.
>
> Alex. 

Geoffrey wrote:


> stairs. I had mine moved (oops, should have said "I moved mine") soon
> after my nephew tumbled downstairs and split his head open on the
> corner of the radiator in my sister's house. 
> 
> Overkill perhaps but I really didn't fancy the aggravation of cleaning
> all the blood off the carpet.


I solved that by putting down a wood floor in the hall ;-)


-- 
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
|          Internode Ltd -  http://www.internode.co.uk            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|        John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk              |
\=================================================================/

In message <43218afa$0$18644$14726298@news.sunsite.dk>, AlexW 
 writes


>I'm looking for tips for how to make my house safer for my 9 month old 
>who has just learnt to crawl and pull himself up into a standing 
>position.


1.  Throw away your VCR.  It'll never work again, after being stuffed 
full of toys etc.  As an aside, we had a cheapo combined TV/VCR which 
jammed.  Contacted Tesco, the supplier, who changed it immediately, no 
problem (about 10 months after purchase).  Brought replacement home, and 
James immediately cried for the old one, because he wanted his toy car, 
which was 'parked' in the old one ...

2. Tie string around the fridge.  Nothing else will work.

3. Check the contents of bins before 'bin day'.  James had a habit of 
putting anything and everything in the bin, for reasons we never 
discovered.

4.  Never leave a cup of tea unattended.  Just make it, and drink it.

5. Don't bother decorating a Christmas tree this year :-)

-- 
Graeme

AlexW wrote:

> ... but the solutions will be DIY.
> 

<snip original question>

> Any ideas appreaciated & TIA
> 
> Alex.


Thanks to all for the words of wisdom and amusing (?) stories, certainly 
got quite a bit more to go at now!

Cheers,

Alex