You’ve meticulously gone over every inch of your home to make sure it’s childproof and safe. But did you remember to do the same to your garage? We are going to share a few tips on how new parents can childproof their garage.
You may not plan on spending a lot of time in the garage with your young one. However, the potential hazards still exist as soon as wee ones can crawl and want to explore. Danger can show up if you turn your attention away from your child for a few seconds while you’re packing the car.
The good news is that you can easily childproof your garage in a few simple steps. Here is what you should focus on.
The Garage Door
If you’re in an older or fixer-upper home, you may have an old garage door. And if you’re door was made or installed before the 90s, you may not have those crucial “eye sensors” at the bottom of the opening. These were made mandatory in 1993, as a way of protecting kids and pets if they happen to cross the door’s path while it’s closing. These sensors can watch out for your kids, even if you can’t.
If you have one of these less-safe garage doors, you can upgrade to a new one for a lot less than you think. If you do so, also make sure that the opener button on the wall is at a safe height where kids can’t reach it.
You can find even more to read about garage door safety by clicking that link. You may also want to read about how a Wi-Fi enabled garage door opener can keep your family safe.
Harsh and Poisonous Chemicals
When you childproofed the inside of your home, you may have moved all of your potentially dangerous liquids to the garage. This may include things like your harsh cleaners, paint, or paint thinners. However, out of the house does not quite mean out of harm’s way.
Make sure you store those products high up where little hands can’t get at them. You can also look at getting a garage organization or shelving unit that may even let you keep these hazards under lock and key.
Secure Your Sharp and Dangerous Tools
Our parents and grandparents were known to hang a hammer or pair of gardening sheers precariously on a nail in the wall. But we can do much, much better to protect against hidden dangers.
Even if you don’t want to invest in one of the organizers we mentioned above, you can simply be mindful of how and where you store your dangerous tools. Have you ever brushed by a shovel or rake and accidentally knocked it down? Think how easily a child could do that.
Keep your tools secure and keep them up high where little hands can’t easily or accidentally take them down.
Lock Your Freezer
If you have a large freezer in the garage, you definitely don’t want a child to open it and crawl in.
It makes good sense to lock it up. If your freezer didn’t come with a lock, you can add one fairly easily to an existing unit.
These steps are a great start in making your home a safer place. But, remember, the key part of childproofing anything is doing your best to talk to your kids and explaining why certain things are a no-no. They will know it’s dangerous to try to get into that cupboard, or go near the garage door while it’s opening or closing.
