How To Keep Your Child Safe At Home During A Renovation

Kids love to get into trouble - we childproof our homes in order to limit how much trouble they can realistically get into. Obviously, during a renovation, there are a lot more hazards - this guide will help you keep your children safe throughout the whole process.

Have “The Talk” 

This talk is a lot easier than the other talk - you’ll need to talk to your children about the fact that renovations are being done, and that there will be a number of things they shouldn’t touch. 

There are going to be rooms they won’t be able to access, tools they shouldn’t play with, and areas they shouldn’t go into. Talk with your contractors about where and when they’re going to be working, then tell your children that things are going to be a little different, and explain to them about how they can stay safe. Read up on this guide about electrical safety advice for kids and their parents for some great tips on how you can keep your children safe.

Create Barriers 

First, you’re going to want to lock any door in a room that’s being worked on - uncovered outlets, hanging wires, holes, debris, tools, and more all present very real dangers to your child. 

In areas where doors can’t be locked, create physical barriers - there are all kinds of childproof barriers and gates available for purchase for children young enough to get into trouble by being overly curious.

Create Alternative Spaces 

Imagine this - you’re a little kid and you’re hungry, so you go into the kitchen to sneak a cookie. Problem is, the kitchen is unfinished, full of power tools and exposed electrical. Not a good scene! 

You can decrease this problem by creating an alternative kitchen - a place with a fridge, a microwave, and some foodstuffs. You can set this up in a room that isn’t being worked on, or in a nearby space like your garage.  

You should follow this model for any rooms that are being renovated that you can’t simply put a barrier around - create a designated playroom, and move it to a different room once the designated playroom starts being renovated.

Keep Air Quality in Mind 

From building sickness to allergies, your home’s air can have a significant impact on your family’s health - especially for children, elders, and pets. There are a few things you can do to mitigate the risk of air quality-related problems. 

You’ll need to make sure vents are covered - your HVAC could be making your home dusty during renovations. You’ll also want to ensure that plastic sheeting and drop clothes are used, and areas are thoroughly vacuumed with a HEPA filter vacuum. More often than not, your renovation company will handle most of this for you, but it’s important that you have a dialogue with them to ensure these standards are met. Some of this work may be left up to you - it depends on the contractor. 

Talk to your contractor about what kinds of paints they’re using - asking for low VOC paints can reduce the chances of VOC-related sickness.

Keep Your Kids in One Place 

When contractors are working, they’re often moving heavy things around very quickly - and they might not see a small child wandering underfoot. That’s why it’s best to corral your children into one or two spaces that are quarantined from where the work is being done.  

That also means you’ll need to be supervising your children, more or less, the entire time that renovations are being done. Honestly, taking a vacation with your family during renovations is often a good idea - you keep your kids out of trouble, and you’ll get to come home to a beautifully renovated home.

Talk to Your Contractors 

You might have figured this point out from the rest of the article, but let’s make it clear - tell your contractors that you have kids, and establish a plan with them. Highlight the importance of keeping spaces as child-friendly as possible - that includes covering outlets and other electrical as soon as possible, and putting away all of their power tools at the end of the day.

By following all of these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of harm coming to your kids. Home renovations are already pretty stressful, so anything you can do to alleviate your worries is a positive step.