Babyproofing your home is a huge, but necessary undertaking. From covering sharp corners and blocking outlets to securing kitchen cabinets, there are a lot of things to think about before your little one starts getting around on their own.
One thing that often slips the mind of new parents are the windows in the home. Windows can pose serious threats to children, so it’s important to take safety precautions to ensure there are no accidents.
As window experts, we’re here to give you a few safety tips to make your home safe for your little ones, no matter how adventurous they may be!
How to Child Proof a Window
While there are some baby proofing tactics that are specific to certain types of windows, and we’ll discuss those further down, there are some general child proofing window guidelines everyone should know.
Make Sure Your Locks Are in Good Shape
This is a no-brainer when it comes to making your home safer! It’s one of the easiest ways to secure your home, no matter how old your children are. Examine your window locks to make sure they’re all in working order and immediately replace or repair any locks that aren’t. If you need to replace any locks, be sure to look for child proof window locks so your windows are secure even as your children grow.
Move Furniture Away From Windows
Babies and toddlers love to climb, so having furniture in front of a window can be dangerous. While it’s not always possible to move furniture away from all windows, it’s a good idea to rearrange your home to move as many pieces of furniture away from windows as possible.
Secure Blind Cords
If you have blinds with long cords, securing them is a must. Blind cords often have small plastic pieces that can become choking hazards, not to mention the risk of entanglement that the cords themselves pose. You can find a variety of blind cord wraps online and at home improvement stores that attach to the wall next to your window to ensure your little one can’t reach the cords.
Install Window Guards
If you like to open your windows for fresh air, it’s important to remember that window screens are there to keep bugs out. They’re not strong enough to prevent a child from falling through. That’s where window guards come in. Window guards are bars that go across your windows to prevent your child from falling through. They may not be the most aesthetically pleasing option, but they are one of the best ways to secure your windows.
Parent pro-tip: if you have a little climber on your hands, install the window guards sideways so the bars run vertically instead of horizontally. This way your child can’t use it as a ladder!
Baby Proof Window Sills
Window sills can have sharp corners, so on lower windows, be sure to add padding to avoid bumped heads. You can likely use the same material you used to pad your coffee table and other sharp corners in your home.
Teach Your Child Window Safety
We teach our little ones that the stove is hot and that they need to look both ways before crossing the street, so it’s important to teach them what is and isn’t safe around windows. Gently correct unsafe behavior and explain why certain behaviors are unacceptable around windows.
Baby Proofing Hung and Sliding Windows
Most people have hung windows, sliding windows, and/or sliding glass doors in their home. In addition to the general baby proofing tips we mentioned above, there is one safety precaution specific to windows and doors that slide open.
Window Stops
Window stops prevent your window from being opened from the inside. There are several styles of window stops but one of the most popular is the window wedge. This is a plastic piece that wedges the window shut, making it difficult for little ones to open. If you have sliding glass doors, look for sliding door locks. They work similarly to a window wedge, but are placed high up on the door so children can’t just pick them up and move them.
Other types of window stops include Charley bars, which can secure any type of sliding window or door shut.
Proofing Casement and Awning Windows
Since they’re crank-operated, casement and awning windows are among the easiest to baby proof. All you need to do is remove the crank handle! That’s right, if your casement and awning window has a removable handle (most do), simply unscrew it and put it in a safe place so you can reattach it later. This will prevent your little one from pushing the window open.
Upgrade Your Windows With Window World of Connecticut
If baby proofing your windows has made you realize it’s time to upgrade them, make Window World of Connecticut your first choice. With a variety of styles and colors, we have the perfect replacement windows for your home. Get started by requesting your free estimate today!