Creating A Child-Friendly Kitchen

My Beautiful Kitchen is very much a family run business supplying kitchens and we appreciate that kitchens aren’t the safest places in the world for children. There are sharp utensils, electrical appliances, hot surfaces, and, more than often, sharp edges on furniture and cupboards.

So if you’re having a baby or your little one is at the age when they’re starting to explore their environment, then it’s essential that you take steps to make your kitchen as safe as possible. It’s also the ideal time to plan and install a new kitchen.

Fortunately, our expert team have many many years of experience designing safe kitchens for families that not only look fantastic but are practical for the family home.

Some of the things you need to think about when planning your new kitchen:

Oven – An integrated oven that’s built into the structure of the kitchen offers fewer hot surfaces for little hands to touch.  Better still, install it at a height where it’s more accessible to you and less accessible for little ones.   Consider childproof knobs, or make sure it’s switched off at the mains when it’s not in use.   Choosing the the right oven is important and we can offer advice on the right oven available at My Beautiful Kitchen

Storage – Planning your storage is critical when it comes to childproofing your kitchen.  With plenty of storage at a height, you’ll be able to put potentially dangerous appliances and utensils well out of harm’s way. Very often, families will use a secure cupboard in the kitchen for medicines instead of keeping them in the bathroom. Foodstuffs such as salt and spices can be dangerous if consumed in quantities by children. Make sure they’re out of reach too, perhaps on a wall-mounted spice rack.

Units and handles – when choosing your kitchen, select one with curved edges and built-in handles. The Remo White in the My Beautiful Kitchen range is a great example. Edges on furniture are one of the biggest causes of injuries to children in the kitchen. Be careful when choosing handles too: go for a handle-less or recessed design. The My Beautiful Kitchen team can advise on the best locking systems to keep children out of drawers and cupboards.

Electricals – All electrical sockets should be at a safe height so children can’s stick objects in to them. Our electricians will relocate your sockets to the most appropriate locations before installation of your new kitchen. You don’t want trailing flexes either, so we’ll make sure there are enough sockets for your needs and they’re exactly where you need them most.

Some general tips on kitchen safety

• When cooking with children about, use the backburners on the stove.
• Put a childproof lock on the bin.
• Close the dishwasher when not in use and don’t leave dishwasher tablets lying where children can eat them.
• Use an appropriate babychair with straps for meals.
• Install a fire extinguisher close to where it’s most likely to be used.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.
• It’s a good idea to avoid using tablecloths until your children are old enough to know they should not be tugging on them.
• If you have any concerns at all about safety in the kitchen, make it a no-go area without a supervising adult and install a childproof gate.

Hope you enjoyed that, for more info give us a call on 0141 771 3640