How to Childproof Your Home Office

It is easy to overlook the importance of childproofing your home office, especially if your child typically plays quietly with a game while you work. But a toddler or preschooler's attention span is short, and you can't count on this peaceful routine while you work. An accident can happen in a matter of seconds, so regardless of how contented your little guy may seem playing with a toy while you finish a report, childproofing your home office is necessary -- even if your child is only in there on rare occasions. Childproofing the home office isn't much different than childproofing the rest of the home, the home office presents some unique challenges.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic outlet covers
  • Clips to organize electrical cords
  • Window covering kits

Instructions

    • 1

      Store medications and supplements you may keep in your office in their original, childproof containers and keep them out of reach. If your child is not normally in the office, you may become careless about leaving out seemingly harmless pills that are dangerous to a young child, such as aspirin for that work-related headache or a vitamin pick-me-up. It is important to be just as careful in the office as you are other areas of the home.

    • 2

      Bolt bookshelves and any other top-heavy furniture to the wall. No matter how stable the furniture seems, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends attaching the furniture to the wall to prevent a toddler or preschooler from pulling it over, which can result in serious injury or death.

    • 3

      Tuck electrical cords well out of reach, and make sure none of the cords are frayed. Your home office probably has more cords than any other room in your home, and it can be a challenge to get them all out of sight. Use GFCI outlets for any cords near water, such as a cord from a table fountain pump. Purchase cord clips from an office supply store to help keep cords out of the way.

    • 4

      Insert childproof plastic outlet covers on any electrical outlets not in use.

    • 5

      Secure any cords attached to your window coverings, such as blinds, out of reach and use window cord safety kits to keep your child from getting caught in the blinds.

    • 6

      Keep the room picked up. Your home office may be a catch-all area where items get stacked when you don't have time to deal with them right away, but everyday items left laying around can be dangerous for your child. Drycleaning still in the bag, plastic grocery sacks, shoelaces or other strings, and other seeming harmless items are strangulation and suffocation hazards for young children. Remove from your office or place out of reach or in cabinets with childproof locks.

    • 7

      Unplug and put away the paper shredder, and place other items out of reach that pose dangers to your young child. Small items such as paperclips, staples, pencil erasers, pen caps and rubber bands pose choking hazards to toddlers and preschoolers. Scissors and letter openers are dangerous in the hands of little kids.

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