Child-Proofing a Grandparent’s House in One Afternoon

The five spots that cause most visits to the ER, and what to do about each before the grandkids arrive.

A house that raised children thirty years ago is not set up for a two-year-old today. The good news is that most of the risk sits in five places, and an afternoon covers all of them.

The medicine cabinet

Pill organizers are the most common poisoning source for toddlers because they are not child-resistant. Move them up and out of sight, and keep the poison-control number on the fridge.

The kitchen

Pot handles turned in, a drawer for the few things you would need in an emergency, and the small round foods (grapes, hot dogs, hard candy) cut or kept out of reach for children under four.

Stairs and windows

A pressure gate at the top of the stairs and window stops that keep openings under four inches. Screens are not a barrier.

The bathroom

Water heater turned down so tap water cannot scald, and nothing a child can pull down on themselves.

The car

A seat installed correctly for the child’s size. Local fire stations will check it for free.