Author Archives: Chad

The chance to spend more time with your family is one of the best parts of working from home. Before you let your little ones into your workspace, though, it is important to learn how to childproof a home office. There are many parts of a home office that can be dangerous to babies or young children if they are left unsupervised for even a few minutes. By childproofing, you will create an office environment for fun and learning, not danger.

Guard Against Electrical Hazards

Electrical cords are more than just tripping hazards. They carry enough voltage to severely burn or even kill a child who bites one or cuts one open. A child could also accidentally use a cord to bring heavy office equipment toppling down onto them, causing injury or worse.

To prevent this from happening, it is important to secure loose cords with cable ties. Also, use cable clips or electrical tape to affix the cords to the floor around the edge of the room, then cover them with cable trunking.

Electrical outlets are an even greater shock hazard and can be dangerous to children. For these, skip the plastic inserts, which are easy for curious little fingers to pry out. Instead, contact your licensed electrician to install tamper resistant outlets. For power strips, use safety covers to guard against electrical hazards.

Secure the Furniture and Equipment

Kids love to climb, but if your child accidentally pulls a filing cabinet over, the consequences could be tragic. In the US, every other week, a child dies from being crushed by tipped furniture. When you childproof a home office, anchoring bookshelves, filing cabinets, and similar furniture is an important step. Use at least two furniture restraints, or furniture anchors, to secure each item to the wall studs. If you have heavy books, install a strap across the front of the shelf to hold the books in place.

It is a good idea to also avoid piling books or files on top of tall furniture. A child can easily shake the furniture hard enough to bring the pile down. Remove stools, boxes, and other items a child could use to climb up onto taller furniture. Cover any sharp furniture corners or edges with PVC-free corner guards large enough not to pose a choking hazard.

Install a monitor mount to secure your computer monitor to your desk. Use safety straps, often called earthquake straps, to secure your hard drive, printer, scanner, and other equipment. Pay special attention to the shredder, which can leave a child permanently disabled. Place it off the floor or lock it in a case or closet, and keep it unplugged until you need it. To protect your equipment from spills and sticky fingers, use waterproof covers.

Remove Little Hazards

When you childproof a home office, the little things matter, too. The pens, paper clips, staples, and rubber bands on your desk can look tempting to a toddler who puts everything in their mouth. It takes just a moment for a child to choke on one of these small items.

Scissors can cause serious injury to a child who grabs them off your desk. Colorful ink cartridges also look fun to play with. If your child pries one open, though, they can have your office looking like an abstract painting in seconds.

To protect both your child and your work, keep small items like these in your desk so they are out of sight.

Establishing clear rules for behavior in the office can also help, but kids are curious and there\’s no 100-percent effective way to childproof a home office. Never leave your child in your office unattended. To keep little ones out when you\’re away, install an exterior quality lock on your office door.

Contact Turn It On Electric to inspect the safety of your electrical system and ensure your home office is a safe place for children.

When you have children, you\’ll want to do everything you can to protect them. More than a third of injuries and deaths in children happen at home. It is easy for kids to accidentally get injured when they are playing or left unsupervised. To keep your kids as safe as possible, it\’s important to childproof your home. Here are seven of the most common household dangers and how to childproof them.

1. Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs

Young children can sneak out of your sight quickly if you lose focus for even a moment. They can drown in a pool or hot tub just as quickly. If your home has these enjoyable features, you should install a fence around them immediately. Make sure the latches for the gates are as high as possible to keep them out of reach of tiny hands.

2. Cribs

As unfortunate as it is, many infants die in their sleep due to unsafe sleeping conditions. To babyproof your baby\’s crib, make sure the mattress is flat and firm. You should not place any toys, blankets, or pillows in a crib with a baby. They can pose a suffocation hazard. Also, until your baby learns to roll over on their own, you should always put them to sleep on their back.

3. Harmful Substances

From cleaning products to medications to toiletries to alcohol, you\’ve likely got a lot of things in your home that are unsafe for children. Wherever possible, consolidate them into a single cupboard or drawer. This way, you only have to childproof those components rather than all of your cabinets. You can buy childproof drawer and cabinet closures at any baby products store.

4. Heavy Furniture

Kids are known for trying to climb just about anything. Unfortunately, that extra weight can cause taller items, like TVs and bookcases, to topple over, possibly crushing your child in the process. Be sure to secure any large or heavy furniture to a stud in the wall to prevent tipping. Many furniture manufacturers provide the necessary hardware along with each piece, so you likely already have everything you need to make them childproof.

5. Sharp Edges

Tables, chairs, and other furnishings can have sharp edges, and careening children can easily bump their heads. Apply foam padding to any corners or sharp edges to provide extra cushioning for little bodies. You can buy specialized foam coverings at baby supply stores, or you can go the DIY route to save a bit of money.

6. Stairs

As your little one starts to crawl, the stairs will become a lot of fun for them to play on. However, there is always the risk that they\’ll fall so this can be dangerous. To prevent this from happening, install gates at the top and bottom of your stairs. This way, your baby can only use them under your supervision.

7. Electrical Outlets

As kids explore, they often want to stick pens, forks, and other narrow items into electrical outlets. This can expose them to the risk of electric shock. You can childproof your outlets with tamper resistant outlets. Contact a licensed professional electrician to learn more.

Always Be Vigilant around Your Kids

It is important to note that no childproofing method is 100-percent effective; you\’ll still need to supervise your kids at all times. However, the steps you take to make your home safe can go a long way towards protecting your children. If you are concerned about the electrical safety of your home, the experts at Turn It On Electric will be happy to help. Reach out to us today for an appointment.