Childproofing the Home Office

are likely to be in use doesn't mean they don't present a danger to children. Children can easily unplug devices and still harm themselves with the outlets, Appy says. "Any persistent child can get those little plastic covers off, and once they're off, they're actually a choking hazard Perfectly Safe Safe-Plate™ Photo courtesy of Perfectly Safe. because of their size and shape," she explains. She recommends outlet plate covers that are affixed to the wall like a regular cover, but that slide closed as soon as an appliance is removed. For power strips, try outlet covers that hide the plug and the strip and are tough for even the most curious little ones to crack. Mind the Small Stuff The big items may grab your attention first when you begin to childproof your office, but this is one place you really should sweat the small stuff. Paperclips, thumbtacks, staplers and staple removers, letter openers and scissors can all be tragically attractive to a small child. Place these items out of reach and sight of children who might sit at your desk, says Romo. Or, even better, store them in a locked cabinet when a child is present. Another set of small-sized items that can cause big problems are the inks and toners in most home offices. For those with color printers who store inks, the cyan, magenta and yellow ink cases can look yummy to a toddler but contain toxic chemicals that should obviously never be ingested. Correction fluid, laser printer toner and even permanent markers (with their noxious fumes) can be hazardous, as well. Store these items out of sight and reach of little ones. If you suspect a child has ingested any of these substances, call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Careful of Bookcases Fall hazards are one of the most common, and most deadly, hazards for children inside the home. "It's critical that parents secure tall bookcases and furniture—anything a child could climb—to the wall," says Appy. "Too many tragedies have occurred because a child tried to climb a bookcase or dresser to reach a forbidden item." When you're storing so many appealing dangers out of reach in your office, consider the eventuality that your child might try to scale a bookcase or table to reach them, she says, and secure each piece of furniture accordingly. And while you're securing items, be sure to firmly affix any television or computer monitor to wherever it is located, be it a shelf, the wall or even a desktop. "Kids can grab onto a desktop and pull a monitor over on themselves and cause serious injury," says Romo. "These new flat screen monitors, with their lighter weight, are easier to pull off and can still cause injury to a child." Control Entrances and Exits One of the most effective child safety devices in a home office isn't actually inside the room, says Appy. "An outdoor-quality lock on the outside of the door is a great investment for a home office," she says. "No one can possibly watch a child for every single moment of the day, but having to use a key to unbolt that door will keep children out more effectively."

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