Any mother or parent knows that it takes practically no time at all for kids to get into trouble. Whether you’re at home, in the store, or on vacation, it’s crucial to keep a constant eye on what your children are doing.

Even in the home, dangers lurk. Most parents know how to keep hallways, cabinets, bedrooms and other areas of the home clear from hazardous or dangerous materials. There are other dangers, however – many that go unnoticed at first glance – that could be just as risky for small children.

Let’s keep our kids safe by looking at some of these home child hazards you might have never considered.

Heating and Cooling Elements

Any mother would naturally be cautious with children around traditional home heating solutions such as fireplaces (in fact, bestelectricfireplaces.net reports that the number one reason for replacing a traditional fireplace with an electric fireplace is due to child safety concerns).

Despite these valid concerns, other heating and cooling elements in the home can pose risks. One example is vents on the floor which can snag, catch, or cut small children who slip or fall on them. Another example is the outdoor HVAC unit itself, which poses an even greater risk of injury or death if left unchecked.

Strings from Blinds

While at first blinds might appear to be very safe around children, they can quickly turn into a hazard. The strings coming off of blinds can get wrapped around a child very quickly and lead to very unfortunate circumstances. If a child also decides to eat one of the strings, it will most certainly become a choking hazard right away.

It is reasons like these why child safe blinds should be installed in a home. Motorized blinds are a suitable option to try and solve these issues. They have no strings or pieces hanging off of them. In fact, motorized blinds in New York City have a great catalogue of blinds that are child safe and not expensive at all.

Improper Bedding

Every parent knows how crucial it is to position infants and small children properly when sleeping in their own cribs. Unfortunately, many parents incorporate elements that can be downright dangerous.

Excess bedding materials such as bumper pads and large comforters can distort the natural surface of the sleeping space,  providing an opportunity for small children to suffocate in the worst-case scenario. Make sure you use firm mattresses, eliminate excess bedding, and tuck any blankets both around the child and the mattress.

Pets

Household pets are often members of the family like everyone else, but their presence alongside small children can cause unexpected hazards.

More than 100,000 children are hospitalized each year due to bites from dogs alone. While a dog may seem like the most likely cause of a childhood injury from a pet, other pets such as cats, snakes, and even pet rodents can be just as harmful.

In addition to bites and scrapes, some other factors to consider include allergies, diseases carried via pet waste, and parasites such as fleas and tapeworms.

Exterior Flooring

It’s not just what is in the home that can be hazardous: it is what’s outside as well. Especially true for older homes, wooden walkways in the form of stairs, porches, and other surfaces can actually be quite dangerous for small children.

Besides the greater risk of tripping on planks or falling down stairs, older flooring tends to bend and loosen, potentially leaving rusty nails and tacks extending from the floor. One wrong step and a visit to the doctor for a tetanus shot might become necessary.

It can be easy to remember to keep dangerous chemicals, sharp objects, and other obviously hazardous materials away from small children. However, there are hundreds of minor risks around the home that mothers might not immediately realize. From scrapes and bites to splinters and even suffocation, it’s vital to keep a vigilant watch on your children – regardless of how safe a room or space might seem.