Janet Wang, Assistant Director of Health and Safety for Beth Israel Medical Center, opened my eyes to what baby-proofing really means.
You’re having a baby… Congratulations! Along with scheduling doctor appointments and planning for the ultimate baby shower, you also need to start thinking about how to make your home a safer place for you and your little one. Before your baby comes home, whether your home is a high rise, pre-war walk-up or a brownstone, you need to plan ahead and set safety measures in place to help prevent unintentional injuries. So, how do you do this?
This process is better known as “baby proofing.” Although this is a term that’s more familiar with parents; as a Safety Director, I can assure you that there is no such thing as completely “proofed.” Where there is a will, there likely is a way, especially if you have an inquisitive mind, like most children do. Naturally, babies and children are very curious and love to explore and mimic the people that they see. They want to open drawers and cabinets, stick items into sockets and do all the things that their parents do, and you should let your children explore; however, you also need to find the balance between allowing your children the freedom to explore while protecting them at the same time. I like to use the analogy of “water-proof” items. Have you ever been in the market for pair of “water-proof” boots? If you were lucky enough to find one, consider yourself a party of none because I can assure you that as soon as you throw those “water proof” boots into a pool, it will no longer be “water-proofed.” If you read the fine lines on the boots, it’ll likely state that the boots are “water-resistant” which would be the more appropriate term. It’s similar concept here, that you can have items that are “baby-resistant” rather than fully “baby-proofed.”
In addition, the word itself, “baby proof” can sometimes give new parents a false sense of security. Unintentionally, they rely too much on the proofed items and let the supervision lack and that’s when your babies can be the most vulnerable. I absolutely advocate for childproof and baby-proof items in your home; however, please note that it is not a substitution for adult supervision. Baby proofing is a deterrent and the best rule of thumb for childproofing is planning, monitoring in conjunction with baby/child proofed items to help keep a safe home for you and your baby.
According to the CDC and National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in the United States. An estimated 9.2 million children annually had an initial emergency department visit for an unintentional injury. Those are some alarming statistics; however, don’t be afraid but rather empower yourself. There is a plethora of information available through numerous reliable organizations and books or if that is too overwhelming for you, consult with a professional to help make your home a safer place. Always remember that “baby proofing” is not a one-time installation project; you must continue to monitor your child’s developments and advancements and modify and adjust accordingly. Furthermore, you should also consider temperaments and energy levels while planning and proofing your home. For example, if your child is more of an active child, you should be more meticulous about proofing and think “WWMCD” (what would my child do) and think of ways to help mitigate those risks identified because as we all know, you know your child the best.
Janet Wang is the Assistant Director of Health and Safety for Beth Israel Medical Center. Janet is a highly experienced and educated safety professional, with years of experience specializing in safety assessment and risk reduction and management and emergency response and management.