10 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Safer for Your Grandkids
It’s finally here, the moment you’ve been waiting for—grandkids! The excitement and joy you feel is palpable. But as you sit and look around your home, you realize that you have some babyproofing to do. Here are some easy ways to get your house safe and ready for those precious grandchildren to come and visit. Keep reading to find out more!
1. Make your pool safe.
When I say pool, I don’t necessarily mean the traditional kind with a diving board and slide. It can be any body of water in or around your home. First, active supervision is the simplest way to ensure pool safety. If possible, swim with your grandchildren and don’t let them in the deep end alone. You can also buy intertubes, floaties, safety ropes, and other safety devices. Additionally, I’d recommend learning CPR. Reach out to your local hospital or fire department for more information. The American Red Cross also offers CPR Certification.
2. Cover your outlets.
Little fingers like to find little things to explore. Unfortunately, outlets meet that criteria. These can be a serious safety hazard to children. Luckily, you can babyproof them by way of outlet covers. Now, you don’t have to install them in every single room. However, putting them in the main living areas—or the areas your grandkids will have the most access to—is a simple way to ensure that little fingers stay safe.
3. Install drywall anchors.
As impossible as it seems, kids can—and will—pull things over on themselves, usually while trying to climb anything and everything they can. While it can look and feel like a statistical impossibility for anyone that size to pull a dresser over on themselves, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Taking the time to anchor furniture to the walls is better than taking the gamble that your grandkids won’t pull it over. Fortunately, most furniture nowadays comes with wall anchors in the box.
4. Put up baby gates.
Baby gates are a fantastic tool to get your house ready for the precious grandbabies. From pressure-mounted to wall-mounted to even extendable mesh, the options are endless! They all serve the same purpose: keeping your grandchild out of places they don’t need to be. Make sure you choose one that has good reviews and install it properly.
5. Store medications properly.
Medicine looks like candy to most kids. Small, brightly colored, and seemingly harmless. If your medication sits out in the open, it’s time to change that. Be proactive and make sure it’s kept in a place where your grandkids can’t access it. Also, check the floors, underneath furniture, and other areas periodically to make sure something hasn’t fallen where a child could reach it. Be vigilant and always double and triple-check to make sure your grandkids can’t ever mistake your meds for candy!
6. Make your bathroom safe.
Make sure your bathroom is kid-safe and kid-friendly. Ensure chemicals, soaps, and even perfumes are stored out of reach and in a secure place. If you don’t already have a nonslip bath mat, look into it. Also, make sure you always close the toilet seat when you leave the bathroom. Of course, you should never leave your grandchild unattended in the bathroom or the tub. Water temperature is also a big safety concern. Keep the water temperature at a safe number for infants and toddlers. If you don’t trust your elbow or fingers to test the water, look into purchasing a bath thermometer.
7. Check for button batteries.
Button batteries are the things of nightmares. Or, at least, when it comes to grandkids. The easiest way to keep button batteries away from little fingers is to do just that—keep them away. If you have items in your house that run on button batteries, treat them like medication. If you think a child has gotten ahold of a button battery and has swallowed it, call 911 immediately. Button batteries may be small, but the risk they pose is life-threatening!
8. Employ sleep safety.
Be sure to read up on the latest on safe sleep for infants and toddlers, even if your grandkids only ever nap at your house. You should still be aware of how to keep them safe. The biggest safe sleep option out there is the “Back is Best” campaign. In fact, since the Back is Best campaign started, yearly SIDS deaths have been cut in half!
9. Install cabinet and door locks.
Cabinet locks are a fantastic tool to ensure that those precious little fingers can’t access unsafe items. You can put them on virtually any cabinet or drawer in your house, and they come in a variety of setups. As with outlet covers, you don’t have to lock up every cabinet in your house. Just make sure you take extra precautions with the ones your grandchildren may have easy access to. Additionally, door handle locks are just as easy to install! Just as with the baby gates, there is a wide range of options for both cabinet and door handle locks.
10. Keep your eyes open!
Last but not least, what’s the easiest way to make your home safer for your grandkids? Keep your eyes on them. Kids are fast and quiet. By keeping your eyes on them at all times, you can keep them the safest they can be under your care. If you need to step away for even a moment, either make sure someone else can keep their eyes on your grandchildren or bring them with you. Don’t ever take anything for granted and be watchful! Tragedy can strike at a moment’s notice, so remember that it’s always better to be say than sorry.
Bottom Line
Now that you have the tools to get your house ready for the newest bundle of joy to arrive, take a deep breath. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing moments you get to have with your grandkids! Be watchful but also remember to smile, have fun, and make those wonderful, precious memories.
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Originally published December 20, 2024
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