What necessary but inconvenient things do you do to make your home safe for your children? Share with Fairy Non Bio - £300 voucher to be won

[JustineBMumsnet]

Unassuming things in the home can be a danger to small children, whether it’s food you’d eat yourself without concern, a small step from one room to another or a box of laundry detergent in the cupboard. Fairy Non Bio would like to hear about the necessary but inconvenient things you do to keep your home safe for your children.

Here’s what Fairy Non Bio has to say: “Keeping your home safe from your little explorers can be time consuming, but because of all the chemicals in laundry detergent we want to ensure only mums & dads can access them. With our new Pods Child-Lock pack this can give you extra peace of mind, close with a ‘Click' and store up high behind a closed cupboard.”

Do you have stair gates in every doorway that you curse every time you simply want to carry a cup of tea AND a snack to the sofa? Perhaps you use foam padding on your table corners that your child pulls off thinking it’s a game or have cupboard locks that take ages to undo?

All who post the necessary inconvenient things they do to keep their home safe for their children below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I hated the door and cupboard catches - I am so pleased I don't have to deal with those any more and just open things without having to push them in!

Fridge and cupboard latches, VHS cover (yes this is some time ago), stairgates, hob guard, fireguard, Christmas tree in a playpen; did it all.

Constantly reminding my older kids not to leave their tiny bits of crap where the baby can get to them. And the baby gate that's so stiff I have to open it everytime the 4 year old wants upstairs/downstairs

I love our stair gates it’s the only way I ever get a pee in peace. We have also ditched coffee tables.

Not sure about inconvenient!
We consciously have to put things up high so that the kids can't reach - including when you're doing diy and leave out things like paint and tools. Generally having kids makes me be tidier!

Table corners are my bug bear as they are necessary but too easy to remove

Stair gates top and bottom of the stairs. Plus gate across eldest room so he can play with his lego and toddler is kept out.

Window blind cords have a safety device fitted.

Cut up grapes etc.

Fireguard.

My parents have spent most of the last eight years with their beautiful mahogany coffee table covered in bubble wrap. Once my DD was old enough to be trusted not to fall into it, DN came along Safety always above convenience for PGC (precious grand children)!

You can buy grape cutters on amazon. About £8 and quarter them (probably no quicker than a knife but feels easier to me)

The window limiter is my least favourite, but very necessary in DC’s room since they can climb onto the windowsill, the window swings open fully, and it gets really hot in there.

Stair gates - Although more funny watching everyone else struggle with opening the gate or trying to hurdle!!
Cupboards with safety locks, just a pain if it gets stuck. Again mainly other people struggling to open in our home.
I sound like I booby-trapped it, but I promise we didn't.

Hiding bins cos that's where all the toys end up
And yes my one year old knows how to get in there no matter what

We are getting rid of the toilet brushes because toddler keeps wielding them like a sword. I know they're a MN faux pas anyway...

Cutting grapes and cherry tomatoes; stair-gates; laundry tablets in the basement; modifying blind chords so they are child-safe

Only child proofing we did was put up a stair gate but never found it inconvenient; definitely more convenient than constantly working out if child was upstairs or downstairs! :)

We permanently moved our coffee table to the side of the room. It is a bit annoying that it isn't too hang for coffee cups and tea plates but it saves worrying about our little ones banging their hands.

removing my beautiful states of animals from around the world - think massive mirrored elephants with the tusks sticking out just at toddler eye height! - from the lounge into my office.

Which means I now catch my jumper or elbow on them every bloody day!

I still halve grapes and don't like leaving them eating unsupervised in case they choke - they are 6 and 8.

Also I have jacklocks on the windows even though I'd rather fling them wide open in the warmer weather

We moved the locks on the front and back doors to be at adult chest level. Too clever by half of course, taking the bin out on a windy day the front door slammed shut and my 6 year old had to “do an Alfie” (for those familiar with the books) and climb on a chair to let me in..

Stairgates, cupboard locks, socket covers...

No coffee tables, no plants, no furniture with glass. Keeping everything minimal until they get older.

Yes to stair gates. And keeping some doors closed at all times. Cupboard locks on some kitchen doors but allow our inquisitive 15 month old free reign in a couple with 'safe' things in...he spends ages taking all the boxes of cereal out, several times a day.

Biggest sacrifice though is temporarily retiring our freestanding speakers. They are heavy (filled with sand) but I wouldn't risk them being pulled over on top of him.

What I find really annoying is the bit where all the safety straps clip together for things like push chairs etc. I am forever clipping my hands in it too. Ow!

DS had a fascination with the dvd player, and so we had to have a catch on that cupboard. Which I really struggled to undo as well...

Stair gates are essential not just for the stairs but for keeping dogs and children apart sometimes, such as when dogs are eating, also trying to remember little things like putting knives in point downwards when stacking the dishwasher, especially when you have a little helper.