This post has been sponsored by Tide.Β All opinions contained herein are my own.Β Please view our disclosure for more information.
As parents, we know how important it is to safeguard our homes to protect little ones, and take great care to think of every detail and check every box.Β But the modern home is changing β and so are the things we need to consider when childproofing.Β The need for a modern home safety checklist has never been more apparent.
March 19 β 25th is National Poison Prevention Week, and a good time to examine the safety measures weβre taking in and around our homes.
Updated layouts to modern homes can expose kids to hazards in rooms that were previously remote, like the laundry room or home office.Β In fact, 1 in 3 parents say their laundry room is located near where family members spend most of their time, like the living room or kitchen, and less than 5% list the home office as a childproofing priority.*
Todayβs home now regularly includes items like USB outlets which are increasingly replacing classic three prong outlets, shattered smartphone screens that can be tempting to touch, and new innovations in cleaning β like liquid laundry pacs.Β Itβs clear we as parents need an approach to safety that is current andΒ considers new technology and products in the modern household.Β For these reasons, Tide partnered with BabyCenter to talk to parents about home safety and update the safety checklist.
Youβve probably hear of these tips:
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Cover outlets with safety plugs or plastic covers
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Lock cabinets that contain cleaning products, especially if theyβre at floor-level
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Keep sharp objects, such as scissors and knives, out of sight and out of reach
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β When cooking, use the back burner of your stove and turn pot handles away from the edge
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Place safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs
But what about these?
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Donβt forget the laundry room: 1 in 3 parents say their laundry room is located near where family members spend most of their time and only 23% of parents who purchase laundry packets count them as a top safety concern*, but they should always be properly safeguarded.Β Store them up out of reach and out of sight, keep them closed with secure packaging, so you can keep little ones safe.
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–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Secure screens: use brackets or push back computer monitors or flat screen TVs so they wonβt topple over
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Donβt lose track of tech accessories: wireless headphones, adapters and other dongles can pose a choking hazard
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Store electrical cords: tuck phone, tablet and laptop chargers behind furniture or above cabinets
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Store remotes securely: keep them hidden away so prying fingers canβt get to the batteries
We love the convenience of laundry pacs, and like millions of other families, have integrated them into our laundering as an effective detergent option.Β We know safe storage of laundry packets is vital, especially since like many modern homes, our laundry room is on our main level near our family room and kitchen.Β Knowing Tide has created the first-ever child-resistant design with a new Child-guard β’ zipper is an added safeguard we value as parents to little ones.Β But even with a sealable feature, we know itβs important to keep any laundry packets up and away and keep them closed to keep our kids safe.
We received the latest Tide laundry pacs complimentary, and were impressed with the results.Β We love that theyβre a 3-in-1 laundry solution, that consists of a detergent, stain remover and brightener all in one.Β Living as a large family means endless piles of laundry, and getting clothes clean and bright the first time is a time saver, and thatβs a huge parenting win around here.Β We also love the portability of the laundry pacs for trips to the cottage, and other travel experiences as a family.
We found this partnership a great experience to update our own awareness of safeguards we can implement in our own modern home to keep our little ones free of harm.Β We hope you found this information valuable also.Β Hereβs your printable version of theΒ Childproofing 2.0: Tips for the Modern Home
Tide is committed to keeping kids safe, including helping parents understand the importance of safe use and storage of laundry packets. Visit here for more childproofing tipsΒ .Β Also visit Tide on Facebook, TwitterΒ & Instagram for the latest updates.
*Survey conducted within Canada by BabyCenter on behalf of Tide from 02/17/2017 β 03/01/2017 among 1,080 adults 18+ years old.Β Tide PODS is a registered trademark of Procter & Gamble and Child-Guard β’ is a registered trademark of Presto.
This is such an important topic because parents always worry about the safety of their kids but don’t always think of everything! Thanks for the tips. We don’t have shelves in our laundry room but I place our Tide pacs on top of these yet that’s elevated.
So true, Maya! Even seasoned parents need reminders to review their home’s safeguards xo π
Such good advice for both first time parents and those of us who are a bit more experienced- you never know when you may have forgotten something simple and obvious!
Thanks, Paula! So very true. A great reminder for parents in all stages and seasons π
Great tips! I do not have kids yet but when I do, I will definitely think of these tips. Thanks for sharing π
Thanks so much, Charity!
Such great tips and something that should be top of mind for everyone! I’m always concerned about my kids getting into things and do our best to keep hazardous items away from them. I love that Tide created this ziploc bag!!
Thanks so much, Debbie! Such great reminders even us seasoned parents benefit from. We LOVE the new Ziploc feature! Forgetting to restore them high is always a possibility. We love this added safeguard π xo
These are such great tips! We’re actually renovating and I can’t wait to get our new cabinets in so that we can secure cleaning items under the kitchen sink! Also, our kids are huge fans of electrical cords, so we’ve had to be creative with hiding!
Thanks, Leighann! We have an electrical cord lover too! Gah! Good luck with the renos! Yay to new cabinets and storage!
This was an awesome, very informative post! I have a newborn, so my “baby proofing” is just beginning! I am definitely going to be saving this for future reference. Thank you for sharing!
Aw, CONGRATS Sarah! Thanks for reading! It’s a great resource for new & even experienced Moms. All the best with your new little bundle xo
You are right. Some of these points are not often thought about.
Thank you for reminding us.
Thanks Dilraz! Even seasoned parents like us need reminders π
I have always kept our laundry pods and cleaning supplies high and way out of reach of little hands. π
Such a good precaution! π
AMAZING TIPS. My mom always got in the habit of keeping cleaning supplies low so my sister and I could reach them so we could help her. So i started it too, MAN. WAS. I WRONG. My kids are all up in my cabinets! You can’t keep an eye on your kids 24/7, no matter how hard you try. It’s better to be safe and it be in a little bit of a “less convenient” place, than have something terrible happen@
Thanks, Justine! Accidents can happen so quick – we’ve had a couple of close calls this year alone. Taking precautions is good for all π
Really great tips! Especially if you have little ones in your home, it’s good to be mindful of possible dangers.
Thanks, Joscelyn! Even parents the 4th time around need reminders π
I don’t have kids but my best friend just had a baby so I can’t wait to share π
Wonderful! Thanks, Kara! Congrats to your friend π