Whether you have children, are expecting or have friends with rug rats of their own; having a safe home for kids can be incredibly important.

If you have recently moved to or are currently apartment hunting in Manhattan, there may be some additional steps to take. Platinum Properties is here to provide you with a few NYC childproofing tips and tricks to ensure safety and peace-of-mind.

1. See from a child’s POV

Are there any loose nails, exposed wires, or other small objects laying around? Many potential hazards aren’t visible from where you’re standing. Make like a baby and crawl around your apartment, removing anything potnetially dangerous a child could stumble across.

2. Use a safety gate

The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house for children. Prevent easy access to the stove, cabinets, and appliances by installing a safety gate.

3. Keep your bathroom door closed

After the kitchen, the bathroom is the most hazardous place for children. Keep all medicines, shampoos, conditioners, soap, and other seemingly-edible products out of reach. Use non-slip bathmats to prevent falls. Invest in a toilet lock. Toilet water isn’t just gross: there’s actually enough of it for a toddler to drown.

4. Keep hand sanitizer nearby

We live in New York City. Childproofing your home is hard enough without germs from the outside worming their way in. Keeping a bottle of child-safe hand sanitizer in every room (but out of reach) will help everyone. You can purchase ALCOHOL-FREE BabyGanics baby hand sanitizer from Toys-R-Us.

5. Invest in cabinet and drawer locks.

It’s nearly imossible to keep an eye on your children 24/7. While you’re preparing a meal or drawing a bath, make sure you have cabinet and drawer locks in place to prevent access to appliances, chemicals, etc. While you’re at it, install finger guards to prevent drawers and cabinets from squishing your child’s (and your for that matter) hands.

6. Protect from sharp edges

As your child starts walking (and running), the risk of bumping his/her head on table corners and counter edges becomes very real. Apply corner guards to every sharp edge in your house. If possible, buy round tables instead of rectangular ones. Pass over the coffee table all together to give your kid more room to scoot around. Using an ottoman instead of a coffee table is a choice many New Yorkers make for a variety of reasons.

7. Cover all electrical outlets

Children are both tactile and naturally inquisitive, a dangerous combination. Keep them from sticking their fingers outlets by covering every one or better yet, installing sliding panel outlet covers.

8. Watch out for your neighbors

At the end of the day your child’s safety is more important than tense relations with your neighbors. Be careful of who you let near your child, especially in the elevator. If your child is still in a stroller, it would be wise to keep them covered when travelling in highly trafficked areas or near piles of trash on the street. It’s the price we pay to live in the greatest city on earth.

Summary

New Yorkers have to go the extra mile in many facets of life. Keeping their children safe is no different. But hey, at least we don’t need to worry about buying them vehicles.