Three child-friendly home tips you might not have thought of

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There’s no getting away from it: having children has a huge impact on your home and the way you use it.

When kids come along, you will probably find that your previous ways of living and, in particular, home management, need to change. Something as simple as the way you store your belongings might require a complete re-think to avoid an accident or breakage.

Creating a child-friendly home

Keeping your home safe and functional as your kids grow is definitely an ongoing task, but if you start to think about creating a child-friendly home while they’re still tiny you can start making changes before things become an issue.

Here are three tips for creating a child-friendly home that you might not have thought of!

Use Secure Locks

One of the fears you might have as a new parent is that your child reaches an age where they are able to open doors. Although thumb-turns on the inside of doors can be beneficial in the event of a fire, they may not allow you to adequately safeguard exits against little hands, particularly when they learn how to work the mechanism. To deal with this, you could find a locksmith in London who will be able to switch out these devices for traditional key locks. If your little ones are still babies you may think this issue is years away, but it’s an easy win that you can tackle now to save hassle later.

Service the Boiler

In the throes of pregnancy, it’s pretty normal to forget certain jobs you need to do – an aspect commonly known as ‘baby brain’. While it may be mildly inconvenient for you to forget to put your dustbin out, or remember to pick up an item from the shops, usually these won’t cause any real harm. However, there are some things you do need to remember to ensure that your home is safe for your new baby. One of these is to have the boiler serviced. A faulty boiler could have the potential to leak carbon monoxide into your home. Generally, young children will be more at risk of suffering severe health consequences than adults. It’s a good idea to get your boiler serviced before the birth of your baby, when you are likely to have even more on your plate.

Make the Nursery a Pet-Free Zone

Having a pet has many benefits for you and your family, but there are some considerations that you need to make before the arrival of your baby.

To keep your baby safe, and limit the exposure of allergens, you may want to prevent your pet from spending time in the nursery. Outside of the nursery, you should also make sure that your cat or dog is never left alone with an infant. Even enclosed animals such as fish or reptiles could pose a problem, especially once your child reaches an age where they can reach the cage or tank.

When it comes to creating a child-friendly home, a systematic approach is sensible. Think about each different area of your home, and consider each room from the perspective of potential hazards. You will then be in a good position to remove or limit the risks and turn your home into a safe and child-friendly space.

What’s your best tip for creating a child-friendly home?