I had to put Noah's bunk bed ladder up on the top bunk.
Any guesses why?
Showing posts with label child safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Of course he can unlock the gate
Of course he can. Why should I have been the least bit surprised when Noah ran to tell me "Elliot opened the gate and ran into the front yard."
Time to lock up the fence gates. Just add it to the list.
Time to lock up the fence gates. Just add it to the list.
I'm downright giddy
When we baby-proofed our house 3 years ago, we talked about gating off the kitchen (since our stove/oven are totally NOT baby proof). For aesthetic reasons, we decided not to, and just kept Noah out of harms way. The 2 entries are over-sized and we'll have to get special gates and a put up something to mount them against.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to do it, but I called the guy who did our baby proofing 3 years ago and am having him gate off the kitchen. I CAN'T WAIT! I can't tell you how many times a day E opens the oven doors and I tell him no and that it's hot and move him away while he goes limp, bucks and screams. It's really getting old. And when I cook I have to not even let it get that far.
What finally drove me to do this, is his new trick. Being a climber, he now thinks it's fun stuff to open the doors, climb on them and then he can reach the knobs and the stove top. That's it. This is an accident just waiting to happen. The gates will be ordered today. Can't wait till they are in. I can only imagine how ticked E will be when he's locked out :) The only challenge will be reminding Noah to lock the gates when he goes in and out. That I can deal with.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to do it, but I called the guy who did our baby proofing 3 years ago and am having him gate off the kitchen. I CAN'T WAIT! I can't tell you how many times a day E opens the oven doors and I tell him no and that it's hot and move him away while he goes limp, bucks and screams. It's really getting old. And when I cook I have to not even let it get that far.
What finally drove me to do this, is his new trick. Being a climber, he now thinks it's fun stuff to open the doors, climb on them and then he can reach the knobs and the stove top. That's it. This is an accident just waiting to happen. The gates will be ordered today. Can't wait till they are in. I can only imagine how ticked E will be when he's locked out :) The only challenge will be reminding Noah to lock the gates when he goes in and out. That I can deal with.
And this is an example of why all furniture has to be tethered/bolted to the wall...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Close call this morning with Elliot
I had something very scary happen this morning with Elliot. My hands were shaking for about an hour afterward. First, some background information.
When Paul & I were remodeling this kitchen (before kids, actually before marriage even), we didn't think about child safety. There are three things we would do differently. Two are conveniences: put in a mudroom, put microwave up higher out of the kids reach, and the third is a safety issue. Get a oven/stove that has child-safety features (locks) on it.
About 3 years ago when Noah was learning to crawl I hired a child proofing company. They came in and evaluated our entire house recommending everything needed to make it safe for a toddler. There was one thing we couldn't child proof though. Our oven! First, of all, how is it that cheap ovens have locks and this one doesn't? Just does NOT make sense to me at all.
Unfortunately the locks on the market are crap and don't work well. The adhesive breaks down in the heat and they were not recommended. Also the knobs are too big for knob covers. Because we have two over sized entries into our kitchen we didn't gate it off either. Instead I've just been very vigilant for 3 1/2 years. I teach them "HOT!" at a very young age when around the oven/stove. I keep them out of the kitchen as much as possible if something is cooking. If they are in here, I'm carrying the baby or he's in a highchair. When we get near the oven I always point and tell him "HOT!".
Well after 3 1/2 years I guess an accident was bound to happen. I was baking oatmeal bread this morning (something out of my usual routine). I had to go to the bathroom and left the kids playing (E was in the playroom, Noah was in the living room). I can move the couch to block E in there, but didn't do that, not thinking about the bread in the oven.
As I was in the bathroom I suddenly heard a blood curdling scream. The kind of scream that tells me E was in pain. I run out and find him lying flat on his back, in front of the oven, gripping it with 4 fingers on the INSIDE (right where I'm pointing in this picture).
The oven was heated to 350 degrees. I immediately scooped him up and assessed his hands, but there was no sign of a burn. I felt the spot he had his hand on myself and somehow it was warm, but not hot. I have no idea, but I believe it must be a miracle. I always pray for God to protect my kids. Thank you, GOD! I really thought we'd be on our way to Children's Mercy. Poor baby was just crying from falling on a tile floor. OUCH! But, no serious harm. I try to be a good mom and watch my kids carefully, but sometimes we all screw up. I'm just SO glad that my Curious Elliot is not hurt.
Please, when buying oven/stoves consider their child safety features. Even if you don't have young kids, at some point they will be in your home. I am writing to Viking to tell them this, too.
And since I'm on a PSA roll, I want to add that in addition to gates on stairs and electrical outlet covers (obvious), make sure you tether furniture to the wall that kids can climb up on. And TV's are a big cause of injury too. Protect those babies!
When Paul & I were remodeling this kitchen (before kids, actually before marriage even), we didn't think about child safety. There are three things we would do differently. Two are conveniences: put in a mudroom, put microwave up higher out of the kids reach, and the third is a safety issue. Get a oven/stove that has child-safety features (locks) on it.
About 3 years ago when Noah was learning to crawl I hired a child proofing company. They came in and evaluated our entire house recommending everything needed to make it safe for a toddler. There was one thing we couldn't child proof though. Our oven! First, of all, how is it that cheap ovens have locks and this one doesn't? Just does NOT make sense to me at all.
Unfortunately the locks on the market are crap and don't work well. The adhesive breaks down in the heat and they were not recommended. Also the knobs are too big for knob covers. Because we have two over sized entries into our kitchen we didn't gate it off either. Instead I've just been very vigilant for 3 1/2 years. I teach them "HOT!" at a very young age when around the oven/stove. I keep them out of the kitchen as much as possible if something is cooking. If they are in here, I'm carrying the baby or he's in a highchair. When we get near the oven I always point and tell him "HOT!".
Well after 3 1/2 years I guess an accident was bound to happen. I was baking oatmeal bread this morning (something out of my usual routine). I had to go to the bathroom and left the kids playing (E was in the playroom, Noah was in the living room). I can move the couch to block E in there, but didn't do that, not thinking about the bread in the oven.
As I was in the bathroom I suddenly heard a blood curdling scream. The kind of scream that tells me E was in pain. I run out and find him lying flat on his back, in front of the oven, gripping it with 4 fingers on the INSIDE (right where I'm pointing in this picture).
The oven was heated to 350 degrees. I immediately scooped him up and assessed his hands, but there was no sign of a burn. I felt the spot he had his hand on myself and somehow it was warm, but not hot. I have no idea, but I believe it must be a miracle. I always pray for God to protect my kids. Thank you, GOD! I really thought we'd be on our way to Children's Mercy. Poor baby was just crying from falling on a tile floor. OUCH! But, no serious harm. I try to be a good mom and watch my kids carefully, but sometimes we all screw up. I'm just SO glad that my Curious Elliot is not hurt.
Please, when buying oven/stoves consider their child safety features. Even if you don't have young kids, at some point they will be in your home. I am writing to Viking to tell them this, too.
And since I'm on a PSA roll, I want to add that in addition to gates on stairs and electrical outlet covers (obvious), make sure you tether furniture to the wall that kids can climb up on. And TV's are a big cause of injury too. Protect those babies!
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