Childproofing Your Windows

We all have horror stories about the safety of our homes – whether they’re about our worst nightmares for ourselves or for other members of our households. They’re all valid, and important cautionary tales, but there are avoidable. Homes have evolved so much in the past centuries, and just in the last ten years, security and safety have been at the forefront of ensuring that you’re comfortable and happy in your investment – be it short-term or long-term. The Valley Windows team hopes that you’re in your home for a nice, long time, and we’ll help provide a better view either way. But we’ll also always share the best advice we can, right here on the blog, about your entire property. Today, we’re focusing on the younger members of the household, and how to ensure that your windows are safe and secure in their presence. Read on for more information:

There’s a common misconception that you should be extra stressed about baby-proofing, child-proofing, or even teenage-proofing your home. We promise it’s not as hard as you think. Even measures as simple as baby gates to areas like stairs, take little time and monetary investment and a load off of your shoulders.

Unfortunately, window falls can be common, especially when the weather is warm and windows are kept open for ventilation. In any given year, nine children pass about almost 4,000 are injured. We only share this to ensure you’re aware of your surroundings. The cautionary tales abound aplenty, here is a good example. The great thing is, they’re very easily preventable with just a few simple steps.

Enter the childproofing of the windows.

The Valley Windows team recommends that you install window guards; just make sure that they’re ones that older children and grown-ups can open in a pinch. How do window guards work? Well, they screw into the frame of a window on the side and generally have bars integrated that are approximately eight centimeters apart. You can find them in all sorts of shapes and sizes, which is ideal because the Valley Windows team offers the broadest variety of window styles, depending on your aesthetic preferences. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the bars are close enough that any child would not be able to sneak between the bars.

If bars aren’t an option – that’s totally fine – window stops are just as good of a solution, just ensure that they’re the same width apart, approximately eight centimeters. The goal here, especially if you live at a higher height, is again – that kids wouldn’t be able to sneak through.

Our final piece of advice has nothing to do with windows but is just as important. Ensure that you don’t have furniture like chairs and tables that young ones can climb on and cause a different situation. Move these a bit away from the window and you’ll be able to have peace of mind and still enjoy premium windows like those provided by Valley Windows.