3 ways to save your sanity and protect your children from sharp corners and hard edges
Youngsters and Sharp Corners Don’t Mix
What would a world filled with unicorns and rainbows be like? Perfect, right? Well, maybe not, but it might be safer than the one we contend with from day to day. Even as an adult, you have your share of obstacles that get in your way - sometimes through no fault of your own, but sometimes put in your path on purpose.
Consider what it’s like for the youngster - baby or toddler - who’s only had a relatively short time to experience life. They really don’t even know what they’re in for yet. One way you can help them along their own path is to remove some of the sharper corners and edges they can come into contact with. There are several ways to keep your young one and sharp angles apart. Let’s take a quick look at them.
1. Corner and Edge Guards
Many pieces of furniture and most walls in your home have corners and edges that could easily cause harm should your toddler run into or fall against them. Corner guards and edge protectors are designed to keep your child safe from these hazards.
These products are recommended for families with toddlers who might still have a tough time getting around but who are advanced enough to know that they should leave these guards in place. While designed to be safe, you might want to test the bumpers in an obscure place to make sure they don’t leave marks on your furniture or peel the paint off your walls.
2. Safety Helmets
Either as an alternative to the bumpers mentioned above or in addition to them, you might want to fit your child with safety head gear. Much like the helmet you’ll likely give you new bike rider later on, a well-designed, slightly-squishy, colorful safety device for the head will prevent bumps and bruises that could otherwise cause damage to the brain.
3. Portable Play Spaces
A portable play space is sort of like a bunch of gates all linked together. You can use it both indoors and out, as well as take it with you on a visit to a friend’s house who may not have child-proofed the premises as much as your own home.
Depending on the location in which you set up the play area, you might want to consider adding a mat inside. This would be especially appropriate for outdoors, whether on concrete or on the lawn. Most youngsters are initially quite hesitant about touching that green stuff called grass. Adding a plastic mat to their environment for their first several outdoor experiences will make it just that much more enjoyable for them. If you locate the play area on concrete or some other man made surface, the mat will provide a bit of a cushion as well. Even indoors, the mat will be kind to the baby’s knees and feet.
So set your little one inside the play area and rest assured that he or she will be safe, yet adorable. You’ll still be able to keep an eye on him, but he won’t be able to get out and into an area where he doesn’t belong.
Keeping your child completely safe is probably impossible. Even with all you do to protect him, bumps, bruises, scrapes, and scratches will still happen. It’s part of growing up. But with the addition of one or more of the items mentioned here - corner/edge guards, helmets, gates, and play spaces with mats - you can minimize the number of times the ouches occur.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.