Safety in the home is important, especially when you have kids. At the same time, when you’re living the crazy life of a parent, remembering what safety features to double check can be hard. So if you’re looking to move and evaluating a house (or double checking the safety of your own home) here are a few home safety tips for you and your kids:
- Take the stairs. Check the handrails and steps to make sure everything is sturdy and placed correctly.
- Lock the doors. Especially on exterior doors, check the strength and durability of the lock, and both the door and frame. The doors shouldn’t have a hollow core, and your deadbolt should be at least an inch into a solid or reinforced frame.
- Make sure the windows are clean and haven’t been stuck shut with paint, nails or weather stripping, in case of an emergency. If you have young children, you can consider getting safety features that keep the windows from opening more than four inches.
- Check the smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. You should test them about once a month and change batteries when needed. When you move into a new home, it might not be the first thing you think about, but you should check how old your smoke alarms are.
- When your kids are young, store cleaning supplies and medications in cabinets they can’t reach so that they can’t ingest anything that would be dangerous. If you’re moving, make sure to choose your new storage places thoughtfully.
- Wrap up wiring, window cords, etc so that your kids can’t get tangled up in them while playing. Wrapping in a band or clamp and tucking behind furniture or in drawers is great when you can.
- Clear the air. If a house you are looking at smells funky, check into it before you get serious and make sure mold isn’t an issue. On the air note, there are poisons like carbon monoxide that you can’t smell, so it’s always a good idea to purchase a carbon monoxide detector.
There are a thousand things to check off your list when you’re getting ready to move, but we hope this helps you remember a few home safety tips for you, and your kids. Remember – no one knows your kids like you. So when it comes to their safety on moving day and beyond, think about them individually, and we know you’ll come up with a great plan. And if the more complicated items on your list, like your mortgage, are stressing you out – call us! We’d love to help you and your family get settled into your dream home.
All the best,
Audrey
The Christian Mortgage Mom
