Protecting your kids during home restoration

December 9, 10:17 AMHouston Parenting ExaminerBeth Ebersbaker

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Keep kids away from insulation.

Here in the Houston area, many families are still working to repair their homes from the damage caused by Hurricane Ike.  Unfortunately, this restoration process can be very dangerous for small children, especially babies and toddlers who don't understand the risks.  Here are some tips for keeping the kids safe while you work to return your home to normal.

1.  Keep children away from work spaces whenever possible.  If your kids are in day care or preschool, they are out of the way most of the time, but if you keep them at home, try taking them out for walks, to the neighborhood playground, out shopping, or to a friend or relative's home to visit.

2.  When work shuts down for the day, pick up tools and debris before your kids can access them.  Don't forget that small nails, hammers, and screwdrivers can be very dangerous for small children.

3.  Use baby gates to close off areas that are under construction, especially where carpet tacks are sticking up or insulation might be exposed.  Since insulation often looks just like cotton candy, children may be tempted to experiment.  Since it is usually made of fiberglass, touching it can cause skin irritation, and eating it could be particularly dangerous.  Try to pick up any stray bits of insulation each day.

Cover carpet tacks with styrofoam.

4.  If you can't remove the strips of carpet tacks along the walls and you can't block off the area completely, try covering the tacks.  My son is extremely curious, and my daughter has not yet found her graceful footing, so I was very worried about one or both of them falling into the sharp, rusty little tacks along the walls of my bedroom.  We had to remove the carpet because it molded almost immediately after the storm.  To protect my little ones, I bought sheets of styrofoam from Hobby Lobby for about $4.00.  At home, I used an knife to cut them into 1 1/2 inch thick strips, which I then pressed into the tacks along the walls.  I felt much more secure after taking this precaution.

5.  Most importantly, don't be too stubborn to leave your house if it is necessary.  If you have a friend or relative with some extra space, try staying there during the worst part of the restoration time.  If not, contact your insurance company.  Most will cover hotel stays when homes are unsafe during restoration.