Home Safety: Parenting Tips for a Safer Stairs and Staircase
1. Put Posts Close Together: When building a staircase, put the posts closer to prevent a child’s head from getting stuck through the bars. If they are wide enough apart, a younger baby may even be able to to squeeze through completely, causing a nasty fall. Invest in a few baby gates but remember that there is no substitution for parental supervision!
2. Stair Runners: Good, tight runners can make a slip less likely to happen. This is one of the best parenting tips; especially if you have a toddler that spills things. Read How to Install a Carpet Runner on Your Stairs for more information.
3. Fix Problems Right Away: Fix any loose posts or railings. This should be done immediately after a problem is noticed. Loose railings can cause a fall if someone stumbles. Same goes for loose boards or holes in the cement of the outside steps of your house. Twisted ankles and worse can result from uneven steps.
4. Put Up Railings: Every stairway needs a railing! If you are not sure about how to do it. Read DIY : Install Handrails on Your Home Staircase for instructions.
5. Talk To Your Kids: The greatest way to keep kids safe is to talk to them about what they need to do to keep themselves that way! No child is too young to start learning about practices that will keep them from harm. Teach children to never leave anything lying on the steps; it’s an accident waiting to happen. Teach Kids to always walk, not run, when descending or ascending and to never slide down the railing. Tell them that they should always use the railing to keep their balance. Young toddlers can be taught to scoot down on their bottoms until they can reach the railing to steady themselves.
Continue to learn more about as a family by finding other parenting tips on more than just how to make your stairs and staircase safer. Tell them to come to you with any questions and advice that they may be learning at school. Get them involved by having them watch for unsafe things they may see around the house. Read Tips to Keep Your Child Safe Around Your Home and What You Need to Know About Your Child’s Safety in the Home to learn about making every step of your child’s life safer, more than just on the stairway.
