Weekend childproofing project: The garden

When you and your kids go outside for some fresh air, make sure your yard and garden are safe for them to play. These four tips can help guide you.

Store unsafe gardening items inside. The best place to store your garden tools, plant food, pesticides, and paints is in locked cabinets in your garage, out of your children’s reach. If you don’t have garage space, or if you have items that can be ruined by temperature extremes (latex paint, for example, shouldn’t be allowed to freeze), store in locked cabinets in the house, out of your children’s reach. Never store dangerous items so they are accessible on a shelf, or in containers in the backyard, no matter how secure you think those containers might be.

Opt for nontoxic gardening supplies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using nontoxic fertilizers, insecticides, and gardening supplies. Labels will give you an idea of how hazardous a product can be. Products labeled “danger” are the most hazardous, followed by “warning,” and then “caution.” Try to avoid products bearing these labels.

Check your backyard for poisonous plants. Many popular backyard trees, shrubs and plants have leaves and/or flowers that are poisonous. The safest bet is to remove them from areas where children play.

Play it safe around the fountain or fish pond. A fish pond or fountain can be intriguing to a curious toddler. If water pools at the bottom of the fountain, teach children to avoid it. A larger pond should be treated as a pool—it should be surrounded with fencing at least 4 feet high, and have a self-closing, self-latching gate.

See the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety for more great child safety tips, available here or at retailers nationwide.

How do you keep your family safe in the yard or graden? Let us know in comments.