I think the top 3 factors in choosing childproofing devices are safety, convenience, and the look… in that order!
The Top Three
1. Safety
2. Convenience
3.The Look
It may seem obvious that safety is the most important factor, but so many parents do not truly understand what that means. It means that the device must protect a child from the hazard it was designed for – consistently and over a significant period of time. An adhesive cabinet latch may be convenient to install, but when put into constant use it is generally not reliable and can give parents a false sense of security.
Many safety products on the market not only may not protect a child from the hazard it was designed for, but can actually create additional hazards. Look at the most common outlet “safety” covers sold; if these had to be tested for use by children they would not pass the CPSC small part test to even be sold in the U.S. yet thousands of these are purchased everyday and placed within young children's reach to “protect” them.
Convenience is important because if a device is not easy to use it will not be used consistently or properly. This pool netting is very popular among parents who don’t want to have to look at a fence around their pool. When used properly, it can reduce the risk of a child drowning. The problem is that it must be completely removed to use the swimming pool. To re-secure it, an adult needs to get on their hands and knees on the pool deck. Too often I see this type of protection left off for periods of time. Parents tell me they are “going back in the pool later”, but in the mean time one of the most dangerous areas of the home is left accessible to children.
The look is important too, because quite frankly I have had parents choose not to protect a serious hazard at all because the safety device was too unsightly for them. I know from experience that the better a device can be hidden or made to blend into the décor of a home the more likely it is to be used. Sometimes this can be accomplished with a very safe and convenient product and sometimes it can’t. Choices always have to be made.
That’s why I believe all 3 of these factors must be considered, but NEVER out of order.
If a device isn’t safe, neither convenience nor the look will matter!
