When you have a child, everything changes… including the precautions you take around home! One of the most important safety considerations is your windows. You would not want your child to tumble out a window, have their fingers crushed by a falling sash, or get their skin stuck in the hinges of a casement window.
Although the following is not a comprehensive list of tips, and teaching children how to safely interact with windows is a big part of window safety, if you follow the tips below for childproofing windows, you can be confident that your child will be safe in your Dayton home.
Many windows come with locks, but they sometimes break as the windows age. Check all of your window locks to ensure they are effective. If the locks are broken, or if they do not lock the windows into place when they are partially open, consider purchasing some childproof locks to attach to the windows. There are various childproof locks available for both sliding and double–hung windows. They allow you to open the window just a crack so there’s no danger of your child falling out, and they prevent a child from pushing the window open any further.
If you have double–hung windows, there’s a childproofing method that doesn’t require any window modifications at all: just open the windows from the top. The top window sash is too high for a child to reach, so you don’t have to worry about anyone tumbling out or closing the window sash on their fingers. This measure also works if you have older double-hung windows and are afraid that the ropes that hold the bottom sash open are not secure.
If you have sliding windows, there’s an easy way to keep children from opening them further and falling out. Put a bar in the bottom of the window frame to prevent the window from sliding open any further. You can use any dowel or rod you have lying around, though there are also childproofing window rods sold for this purpose; they’re sometimes called Charley Bars.
Children’s motor skills can improve very quickly overnight. One minute they can barely hold a toy, and the next, they can open a crank window! One of the best ways to make sure they don’t open a casement window and pinch their fingers in the hinges is to remove the crank handles from the windows. Keep them in a drawer in your Dayton home. You can reattach them temporarily if you need to open the windows.
Regardless of what type of window you have, make sure you move all furniture, toys, and other items back from beneath the windows. This way, your child won’t be able to stand on these items and reach the windows. There’s also less of a risk of them falling into and through the window.
If the windows in your Dayton home are becoming loose in their sashes, are difficult to open and close, or do not lock well, your best option may be to replace them. New windows are inherently safer for you and your child. Contact Renewal by Andersen today to schedule your free, in–home consultation. Our trained technicians can help you discover the styles and options that are best for your growing family.
