Childproofing for Foster Care
If you are preparing for your first foster placement, one of the things that you might be thinking about is childproofing. If you don’t know how old the child is that you’ll be caring for, you’ll want to be prepared for everything, and babyproofing now means that you’ll be ready for future placements before they arrive. Here are some tips to help.
Utilise Height
The problem with childproofing for foster children is that all children will be of different ages. Teenage foster children might need access to some of the things that you want to protect toddlers from. This is where height is important. For the most part, older children can reach things much higher up than toddlers and babies. Instead of locking things a teen might want away, store them on high shelves and in high cupboards that older children can reach, but younger ones can’t.
Eliminate Trip Hazards
Trip hazards can be dangerous to children of all ages, and even to adults. Before you start to foster, make sure things like electrical wires and cables are safely out of the way, and that areas that get lots of footfall, like your stairs, are always kept clear and safe. If you need to make any repairs, like a loose floorboard near the stairs, make them straight away.
Position Stairgates Carefully
Stairgates are a great tool when you have young children in the house, and they can be kept open, or easily removed when they’re no longer needed. But the stairs aren’t always the best place for them or the only place that they are needed. In some homes, it makes more sense to block off specific rooms or areas.
Declutter
Clutter can be dangerous. It can lead to trips and slips, make shelving unsafe, and it also gives dust and bacteria a place to grow, which can reduce air quality. While you are preparing your home for a foster child, make sure you spend time decluttering and tidying, so that everything has a nice, neat home.
Add Locks When You Need to
Cupboard locks are a useful way to keep little fingers out of dangerous places, and also to stop those fingers from getting trapped. They are generally easy to fit, and you can either remove them or just leave them unlocked when you no longer need them.
Get Help
As a foster carer, you’ll get a fostering allowance, which you can learn more about at fcascotland.co.uk. While this might help with the financial burden of childproofing, make sure you also get advice on how to childproof if you need it, even asking your case worker to visit your home with some tips.
If you have your own children, you might have some experience in babyproofing your home. You might even think that your home is safe for a child. But as your children have grown, chances are your home has evolved to suit their changing needs. Even if you think your home is safe, take the time to look around, even going around on your knees to access dangers and remove hazards.