ApplianceJournal.com

   We childproof our homes in many ways, locking under-counter cabinets filled with cleaning supplies and poisons, plugging outlets with plastic safety caps, and keeping dangerous items out of reach.  However, we often forget about the things our children use every day – household appliances?  Are your appliances kid friendly, or do they pose a danger to your child on a daily basis?  Here are some things you probably don’t think about all the time that should be handled with care in a home where there are young children.

Stoves and Cook Tops – Of course, you always remember to turn off the burners when you are finished cooking because you don’t want to waste electricity or burn the house down.  However, what sorts of knobs are on your appliance?  Are they easily turned, or do you have to push in to turn as you would a childproof cap on a medicine bottle?  If these are easily turned, they could put your child in danger.  He or she could accidentally turn on a burner and get burned or even start a fire, simply by bumping a knob.  In fact, even you could have such a mishap.  Childproof knobs on your cook top or stove are vital to safety.

Ovens and Dishwashers – You may not realize how simple it is for your child to get hurt simply opening the door to the oven or dishwasher.  First of all, if either appliance is on, there is a lot of heat involved in their functionality.  The oven door can send boiling steam into your child’s face should he or she open it while cooking, and the dishwasher could spray out scalding hot water.  Even when the dishwasher is not on it can be a dangerous thing for a child to access, full of breakable dishes that could burst into shards and cut your child, as well as sharp knives that could also be harmful.  On both appliances, you should maintain a working lock mechanism to keep young children from nosing into them and getting terribly hurt.

Surge Protectors and Wire Covering – Just when you were starting to think that the only appliances that weren’t kid friendly were in the kitchen, it’s time to shift gears.  In this day and age, all children have stereos, CD players, DVD players, televisions, and game systems.  All of these items require cords for power and outlets into which these cords are going to plug.  In case of a short or a power surge, you should have all electronic appliances in the house plugged into a surge protector, especially those in your children’s room.  Also, to avoid curious children from playing with loose wires, you should incorporate something that will cover, hide, or at least bind the wires so that they are less likely to become items of interest.  This will also help protect them from tangling with each other or becoming damaged.

Appliance Timers – Many children will fall asleep with the television, VCR, DVD player, game system, and other electronic devices left on, even the lights.  To avoid their injury due to these appliances overheating, as well as to cut back on your monthly electric bill, consider putting these items on a timer.  Many televisions come with a built-in timer, and other devices can incorporate such an item through a plug mechanism.

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