Child proofing

When you think of child proofing a home the usual dangerous elements come to mind: cover outlets, put gates on stairs, set water temp to less than 120, lock up cleaners, detergents, etc. What doesn't come to mind are the things that parents everywhere have to do to keep their kids safe, healthy and remain sane at the same time. Based on our kids' abilities to climb and their curiosity, we have to engage in many other child proofing strategies. One is that we need to hide all toothbrushes. If Matthew finds a random toothbrush, he will use it. Regardless of where it is, he will climb to it and use it. So all toothbrushes remain in the cabinet in our bathroom. Sam's toothbrush ends up wherever, as he also likes to "brush" his teeth throughout the day and at any time there is one or possibly two or three random toothbrushes around our house. The funny thing is that when it's actually time to brush Matthew's teeth, we can never find his toothbrush, so he rarely gets an actual brush from Jason or myself. Suddenly "baby teeth" makes so much sense. God is really smart.

We also hide our toothpaste. Both Matthew and Sam like to eat toothpaste if given the chance. The kids' toothpaste is on the top shelf in the linen closet in their bathroom. It was on the third shelf, about 5 feet up, but Sam managed to get it down, so I had to resort to the top shelf. So everyday when we brush Sam's teeth I have to retrieve the toothpaste from the top shelf, put some on Sam's brush and return it to the top shelf.

Another thing we need to do is hide electronic devices. I have a Kindle e-reader which Matthew, for some reason, likes to try to play with. Really, it just has words, so I don't quite see the appeal, other than Matthew sees me using it, so he wants to. Sam likes any electronic device--laptop, desktop PC, Kindle fire, cell phones, cameras. During the day I often keep my cell phone in the window sill by the kitchen sink. It's close enough for me to access it, but it's far enough away that it requires a number of steps for Sam to acquire it. Otherwise if Sam gets a hold of it, he will either 1) text my entire phonebook, 2) text random friends, 3) take pictures, 4) call Jason's office and hang up or 5) call random friends and breathe into the phone. All of the above have happened.

Other things we have to do: put any drinks up high--coffee cups, half filled cans of pop, glasses of water, anything attracts my little boys; hide plastic bags (the kids really do like to put them on their heads); hide the knitting--the kids will get into the yarn if you leave it out for them; don't leave baking items on the counter (the kids will begin either eating the sugar or dumping flour on the floor or counter). I'm sure more child proofing needs will arise over the next few years as my intrepid kids learn new tricks and start exploring more things around the house.