Every parent knows that children can and will get into everything! This can come as a shock to new parents, however, who can be taken by surprise with the suddenness with which their adorable baby suddenly transforms from a docile bundle who stays where they’re put into an agile crawling, walking, running, even climbing, creature who can disappear into impossible places in the blink of an eye! Here’s how to childproof your rolling home, so this transformation becomes something to look back on later and laugh about!Β Β
A Moderate Temperature
Babies learn through their senses, and this can include putting the most inedible items in their mouths or trying to touch hot radiators, stove plates and still steaming kettles, amongst other things. Aim to prevent burns by making sure that radiators are covered so that β at worst β baby simply touches a warm, rather than hot, surface. Keep pans and kettles well away from counter edges, and if you are going to be leaving your child alone in the campervan for any length of time, empty out boiling water and put the hot vessels well out of reach β or run some cold water into them if this is not possible. Being sensible with heat sources is a good way to keep you and the whole campervan safe β even the best insurance policy cannot replace precious mementos and treasured letters and drawings. Check out https://www.campervaninsurance.co.uk.
Soft Touch Drawers and Doors
Little fingers and toes pry into all sorts of crevices and crannies, and busy parents can easily miss this and slam drawers and cupboard doors shut, bruising those tiny digits. Prevent this sort of common accident which can cause anything from small bruises to broken bones by swapping out all your cupboard doors and drawers for soft-close options which whisper shut slowly, giving little fingers plenty of time to move, and not harming them at all if they aren’t whisked out of the way in time. In the same way, make sure that sharp edges and corners are covered with a layer of foam or felt padding so that bumped heads remain a minor and unimportant ‘owie’ rather than a serious wound or head injury.
Sturdy Storage
Campervans are like caravans and boats in that they have plenty of small cunning storage solutions throughout. Make sure these storage units are sturdy enough for small climbers to mountaineer up them, and that they close firmly, with curious children unable to open them easily, especially if the campervan’s cleaning materials are inside. Any cupboard that contain potentially harmful products should actively lock, and the keys should be kept well out of reach.
Socket Covers
Plug sockets are a delight in a campervan, offering entertainment, a freshly charged mobile phone or tablet, light, some heat and more β but they are also a hazard, just as they are in a home. Make sure that your little ones can’t hurt themselves by clipping socket covers into place that fit firmly and need adult dexterity to remove in order to use the sockets.
Keep Things Tidy
Finally, make good use of all the storage options available to you and declutter the campervan frequently, putting away toys and games that aren’t actively being used, make sure clothes are put away into wardrobes or the laundry hamper or laundry bag, and always clean and clear as you go when cooking.