Ask This Old House Host Kevin O’Connor shows a new mom a few tips to keep her baby safe around the house by using cabinet locks, a baby gate, outlet covers, and securing a television. (See below for the shopping list, tools, and steps.)
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Shopping List for How to Add Childproofing to a Home:
- Cabinet latches
- Safety gate
- Outlet covers
- Television straps
Tools for How to Add Childproofing to a Home:
-Electric drill/screwdriver
-Hand screwdriver
-Wrench
Steps How to Add Childproofing to a Home:
1. For cabinet latches, place the latch where you want it on the cabinet door and the catch on the cabinet frame, and predrill holes with an electric drill.
2. Using a hand screwdriver, secure the screws included with the latch kit to the cabinets.
3. For a safety gate, find two solid points of attachment (a wall and a newel post for example). At the bottom of the stairs, a gate can be held with tension by using a wrench to tighten the sides of the gate. At the top of the stairs, use included screws to secure the gate to structure.
4. For electrical outlets, remove the existing outlet cover by loosening the center screw, and replace with a childproof outlet cover that automatically closes when not in use.
5. For a flat-screen television, attach one mounting strap to the mounting holes on the back of the television using the machine screws provided.
6. Using wood screws, attach the other mounting strap to the furniture below the television.
7. Bring the two straps together until tight.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Add Childproofing to a Home | Ask This Old House
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