Your kitchen is the hub of your home. Think of it—everyone in your family is probably in the kitchen several times a day. You likely eat some meals in the kitchen. Maybe you take your morning coffee or your evening cocktail at the kitchen counter. However, your kitchen can also be a danger zone, and making your kitchen safe for your family should be a priority, especially if you have young children.

The Toddler’s Perspective

Between the ages of 2 and 4 years, children are most at risk in the kitchen. At the toddler stage, children don’t think about safety. They think only about adventure. Their curiosity overrides any feelings of potential danger, and for this reason any family looking at remodeling their kitchen should look at the kitchen from the child’s perspective in order to prevent potentially dangerous accidents.

Kitchen Safety Tips and Checklist

Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to create a safe kitchen:

• Avoid using tablecloths as a permanent fixture.
• Have a child safety gate to keep children out of the kitchen.
• Have a fire extinguisher handy.
• Install electric hot water limiters.
• Install induction stoves, which limit the amount of heat and lessen the chance of burns.
• Keep cleaning products in locked cabinets.
• Keep glasses or good china out of reach or behind child locks in cabinets.
• Keep knives and other dangerous objects locked away.
• Keep stools or other furniture away from counters or stove.
• Put non-dangerous equipment and snacks in easily accessible places.
• When remodeling a kitchen, find a stove with childhood locks or burners.
• Put child safety latches on low-lying cabinets.
• Turn stove handles towards the back and cook with back elements when possible.
• Use rounded edges on countertops and for cabinets wherever possible to cut down on injuries.

If you have older children, you may want to build a nook where they can study, or a place where they can watch television. If you have a budding cook in the family, make kitchen tools easily accessible to them. Teach your children how to safely use the kitchen as well as teaching them to respect electrical appliances and potentially dangerous utensils.

Hidden Dangers of Disease

Kitchen surfaces can be breeding grounds for bacteria. Granite and stainless steel keep bacterial growth to a minimum. Research the best material for countertops to help keep your family healthy. Simply teaching proper hygiene to children can also help prevent disease.

Safety When Remodeling

The remodeling experience can intrigue children. It can also create dangerous situations as workmen move in and out of the kitchen, often using dangerous tools or equipment. When remodeling a kitchen, the safety of your children should be of the highest importance. Above all, be vigilant, and help your contractor’s crew do their job by keeping the children out of the way.