Is your home child friendly?
You don't have to give up on the idea of decorating your house, just because you have children. With simple tweaks and tips, you can make your home child friendly.…
When Sheetal Kher, singer Kailash Kher's wife was eight months pregnant, she decided to do up her baby's bedroom. Being a huge Calvin and Hobbes fan, she got her artist friend to paint some of her favourite cartoons on one of the walls of the room. Using non-toxic paints, she transformed the room into a piece from comic strip and is now looking for other furniture to complement the walls. The idea is to give her son (nine-month-old Kabir) his space. "It is important for a child to have a sense of self so that he grows into a confident toddler. Having a child friendly home ensures that your child is safe even when you are not able to keep a constant watch on him," she says.
Getting Started
Being a new parent can often present a new set of challenges that can leave you unsure and frustrated though it is perfectly normal to be a little paranoid about your child's safety. It is therefore important to make your home safe before your young one discovers the joys of crawling, touching and fiddling with whatever he can lay his hands on.
The best way of determining where the unsafe areas are in the house is by getting down on fours. It allows you to see the world from your baby's perspective.
Make a note of all sharp corners, cords, cabinets and drawers that were low enough for the baby to reach and the contents that can be pulled open.
Replace your wood and teak furniture with soft leather couches and put grills to limit access to the balcony. Children are very curious to explore the world the moment they can stand on their feet.
Your baby's first few steps will be coupled with falling and bumping into things, hence eliminating potential hazards is important.
Child-friendly vs child-proofing:
You have spent hours, identifying the potential hazards and rectifying them. All drawers have safety latches, gates are installed, and sharp corners are covered, breakable objects kept out of reach. You have made your home child safe, but is it child friendly? You don't need to live like a monk just because you have children. Here are some tips by interior designer Ali Asgar for a stylish home:
Add low seating divans and settees so that the child won't have a fall while sleeping or sitting.
If you don't have grills in your balcony, create a virtual boundary by adding potted plants and mitigate the risk of any fall. It is also important to place the furniture in corners to give enough space to the child to move.
Scotch guard your upholstery or use durable material like leather or Rexine, so that you don't worry about your kids dropping sauce or food on them.
Creating child-friendly zones:
A child friendly home doesn't necessarily mean that each and every room needs to be decorated to suit your child. Have a safe zone where your child can have free movement without getting hurt.
According to architect Zeenat Jaffer (who also own Big Red Bus store in Bandra, Mumbai), the main focus should be on the child's bedroom (if there is one) or the living room (where he is likely to spend the most time). "There is a space crunch in big cities so it is necessary to stretch your imagination to incorporate a space exclusively for your child," she feels.
If you are too pressed for space, Zeenat advises a corner exclusively for your child, which can act as his play pen. Put a rug so that he doesn't hurt himself while playing.
There should be enough space to store the current lot of toys which should be accessible to the kid (you will have to keep the unused ones in the cupboard).
If you have a child's bedroom, you can let your imagination run riot with so many options in the market today. Having an exclusive space ensures that they don't mess the other parts of the house.
Children can shame you in public if they are not properly trained. "I have retained my glass table and crystal accessories and my children know they are not supposed to touch them. They have a room exclusively for themselves where they can do whatever they want," adds Komal Rampal, mother of three young kids.
Storage strategies: With the advent of your little one, you will need lots of space to store baby things and later their toys and knick knacks. Choosing a sturdy storage option is therefore very important.
Salim's tip: You need to select two kinds of storage options. One, which will have safety locks for chemicals, sharp elements and cleaning products. The other will have their things like toys which should be at a lower height and easily accessible to them.
Is Child friendly budget friendly?
Designing a child friendly home doesn't mean you are going to burn holes in your wallet. Here are few tips from Zeenat, the owner of Big Red Bus store in Bandra.
The market is flooded with lot's of do it yourself stickers, non-toxic paints and customised furniture for the little one.
Just make sure that the carpentry techniques should be good as they will have to bear the brunt of scratching, jumping and other activities.
Buy beds which can be used for at least three to four years. There are safety locks and latches available which are not very expensive.
Scotch taping your electric sockets is also a cheap option. You don't need to buy high end furniture to decorate the room. The idea is to make the room, welcome enough for your baby to grow into a happy human being.
Here are some child proofing techniques:
If you have a toddler, taking safety precautions becomes even more important. Kids want to touch things and put them in their mouth. Simple changes can help ensure your child's safety.
Keep out of reach:
· Breakable and glass objects
· Houseplants
· Chemicals, cleaning products
· Electrical equipments
· Knives, forks
· Matchboxes, lighters, razors
Make simple changes by...
· Move furniture away from windows and shelves
· Add non-slippery rugs
· Remove tablecloths, use place mats
· Use safety locks in the freezer, doors
· Store toys in the lower shelves.
· Install baby gate if there are stairs in the vicinity
· Scotch tape electric sockets
Build your dream room
A stylish home is not a dream anymore. A budget friendly room can be designed in as less as Rs 35,000 and depending on your budget, you can redo it in even less.
Old bed and new headboard: Rs 8000 onwards (redo the bed with new bed sheet. Cushions and curtains: Rs 3000). New bed will cost Rs 20,000 onwards
Wall stickers, wall paper cut-outs and non toxic paints: Rs 5000 onwards. If you go for wall art and personalised wallpapers, it could go up toRs 20000
Storage bins and units: Rs 6000 to Rs 15000
Shelves and wall accessories: Rs 2000 to Rs 5000
Chair and play table: Rs 4000 to Rs 13000
Courtesy : Big Red Bus store, Bandra
Source: Yahoo life style.