You’re there finally!
Starting a home daycare is past you. And now, you’re working on getting your home ready for inspections. You’re also excited to get your first client. I get you.
Everyone knows the children in daycare will be kept safe and secure by you, the provider. Also, that means childproofing your space to prevent accidents and keep everyone happy.
There are so many childproofing products to keep children safe today that I was initially shocked to see so many items.
How do you choose the best childproofing products?
The ideal way to choose from all the options available today is to learn from this ultimate list of childproofing products.
Think about the age and size of the children in your care. Consider the space of your daycare business. Think about the different risks your daycare environment can have for the kids. Make sure you budget enough money for this step. It’s not okay to only do the minimum in hopes of saving money.
Note: if you’re a parent who wants to childproof their home, these childproofing ideas and products will help you too. 😊
Childproofing Ideas for Your in Home Daycare
1. Check Daycare for Risks Before Children Arrive:
Every morning, before you open the doors to your home daycare, do a quick walk-through and check your space for any potential risks.
I suggest you create a daily list with things you will want to check for before your first child arrives. Not only will this help you keep a safe daycare space, but it will also keep you in compliance with any surprise inspections.
This step will make things so much easier for you!
To get you started on this step, I included a free daily checklist printable you can use in your childcare business.
👉 Link to Download Free Daily Checklist Daycare Form
Directions:
Download the checklist and print it out. In case you’re curious, this is the printer I use and recommend.
Next, you will want to write in things to your list like:
- Are cleaning supplies put away?
- Are sharp objects like knives out of children’s reach?
- Pick up any small objects from the floor.
You get the idea.
Then either laminate your checklist or place it inside a sheet protector. Use dry-erase markers to check off the things you completed on your daily list.
Related: How to Laminate Printables at Home
2. Secure Heavy Furniture to The Wall:
It’s not a secret, children are curious and adventurous. They love exploring the world around them.
And when you least expect it, they’re getting into and climbing everything!
Luckily, you can secure heavy furniture to the wall and prevent it from falling over. This way, if a child does try to climb or pull on it, it won’t tip over.
Depending on the furniture in your home, you will need straps or brackets to secure them to the wall.
But don’t limit this step to heavy furniture such as bookshelves, dressers, or TVs. If possible, attach the child-sized furniture to the wall too.
3. Use Gates to Block Stairs:
If your home has stairs or rooms that are not safe for little ones, use baby gates to block those areas.
I don’t know about you, but baby gates give me peace of mind.
You can use as many baby gates as you want to control the traffic in your daycare.
You want to put baby gates on the bottom of your stairs so the kids won’t go up unsupervised. If your daycare will be on a second level, put a baby gate on the top of the stairs to prevent kids from going down the stairs. Whatever makes sense for your daycare space.
Also, use baby gates to block off any room you don’t want kids going into or with things they shouldn’t touch.
Choose baby gates that are sturdy and easy for you as an adult to open and close. The last thing you want is childproofing your home and struggling to get access to the different areas. 😃
Also, don’t forget to childproof things like your fireplace, floor vents, wall heaters, etc.
4. Keep Cabinets and Drawers Locked:
Another thing kids love doing is playing with everything they shouldn’t play with. They love grabbing dangerous things like cleaning supplies or sharp objects.
So to keep children away from these things, lock up your cabinets and drawers.
You can use special locks or latches made for this purpose.
Or you can do what I did!
I kept my knives and cleaning supplies on top of my refrigerator. It’s what worked for me and my daycare space.
If it’s okay with your state licensing, you can do the same.
5. Cover Electrical Outlets:
You know how dangerous electrical outlets can be if kids try to stick their fingers or objects into them.
And kids, they are good observers, and many of them are attracted to electrical outlets. They see us, the adults, constantly charging our devices. So naturally, they want to play with the outlets.
But it’s easy to keep children safe by using outlet covers and making outlets hard for them to reach so their little hands won’t get hurt.
So cover every electrical outlet in your home daycare with an outlet cover.
Also, if your outlets are in use, consider getting an outlet cover box like the one here.
6. Hide Cords and Wires:
I can not stress enough how important it is to make sure that every cord and wire is inaccessible to little children.
There is something about cords and wires that call out to children to pull on, chew on or wrap them around their necks.
But regardless of how fun kids think playing with cords and wires is, we need to avoid accidents, and it’s easy to do so.
Overall you can hide every cord and wire in your home daycare, especially if they’re not in use. Or you can use a special cover or an organizer to secure and keep cords out of reach from the little ones.
7. Cover Door Knobs:
Kids love opening and closing doors. I guess slamming doors can be fun for kids, but it’s also risky. Kids can get their fingers smashed or open doors to unsafe areas.
Make sure you prevent children from turning door knobs by covering them with childproof covers or putting locks on the doors. The door covers will make it hard for young children to turn the knob and walk into dangerous places.
Childproofing your doors will also prevent the kids from walking out of your daycare without you noticing. So many things can happen in a matter of minutes that are preventable. Don’t you agree?
Also, you want to regularly check the covers to make sure they are always secure and in place.
There are so many childproofing products that you will likely have a hard time choosing which ones to get for your home daycare. One good choice that I like and think you will too is the Safety 1st Safety Essentials Kit. It comes with door knob covers, outlet covers and cabinet and drawer latches.
This amazing kit has 46 pieces, and it’s a good product to consider when you start childproofing your home daycare.
8. Make Windows and Blinds Safe:
What if the kids can open windows? What if they want to play with the blinds? Consider installing window guards, or locks to prevent kids from opening windows.
Also, you will want to make sure blind cords aren’t putting the kids at risk, because they too can be dangerous. Install cord winders or check out these cordless blinds and use them as an option to keep children safe and away from playing with blind cords.
9.Put Away Small Objects:
Little kids love putting small objects in their mouths, which can be a choking hazard.
When you start choosing toys for your home daycare, I recommend you make sure the toys you are getting are safe and age-appropriate for your current group of kids.
Make it a habit to regularly check all your toys for any broken pieces or small parts that could be dangerous.
Also, you will want to keep the play area tidy and organized. I like to use storage containers. You can get containers with lids in whatever size you need to store your toys or for the different areas of your daycare space.
Keep in mind that you can also use sturdy cardboard boxes, and baskets.
10. Create a Safe Outdoor Space:
If your daycare has an outdoor play area, you must make all the necessary adjustments to keep it safe for the kids.
I suggest doing a daily check of the outside daycare equipment. You will want to check for any damage. If you notice anything dangerous, you need to fix it. Also, remove anything sharp or dangerous off the ground, trees, fences, etc.
I know not every daycare has a play structure, but if yours does, put soft materials like rubber mats or mulch underneath to protect the kids from getting hurt if they do fall.
Quick reminder, there is a section on the daily checklist printable you can use to write in things you want to check to help you keep your outside space safe. You can download the FREE DAYCARE FORM HERE and use it in your daycare business.
11. Supervise Children:
Even after you childproof your daycare environment you nee to always keep an eye on the kids. Also, make adjustments to your space in order to keep up with the changing needs and ages of the children in your care.
I know that it’s easy to say that you must always watch the kids. But in reality, it is a bit hard to always be in the same room as ALL the children in your care. And unfortunately, hiring extra help might not be within the budget of every childcare business.
But you can consider an alternative. You can use cameras or baby monitors within your daycare space so you can be watchful of the children that are in different areas.
For example, you can put baby monitors in rooms where you might have a sleeping baby. Or perhaps you feel better being able to check on the kids while you run to the bathroom. And even though, in some situations, you can pop in your head or call out to the children to check on them, having a visual at all times might be a better option for your business.
Finally, don’t think of childproofing your home daycare as something you need to do only to get approved for a childcare license. Think of it as a way of helping you offer the children an environment that is nurturing and giving you peace of mind.
Also, parents will feel better knowing you took all the necessary precautions to childproof your daycare. And this will help them feel confident entrusting their child to your care.
Did I forget anything? Please share your best childproofing ideas and tips in the comment section.
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