Ouch Proofers is a Washington DC-based babyproofing and childproofing company offering convenient, in-home services, following strict COVID-19 protocols. We are experts at eliminating known in-home hazards as well as locating and neutralizing hidden dangers that might be lurking in your home. Ouch Proofers is a one-stop-shop: we will provide you with an estimate, finalize the project over the phone, select the best materials, and childproof your home in one visit.
With love,
Ouch Proofers is a team of dads obsessed with making homes safer for babies and children. If we can prevent one “ouch!” — be it a tiny boo boo or a major injury requiring an ER visit — we are doing our job well!
Since all of us are parents, we understand that transitioning from a newborn to a baby and then a toddler is exciting and scary at the same time. As a responsible parent, you want your child to be able to explore their immediate environment; at the same time, you cannot ignore the facts: most early childhood injuries happen at home.
We don’t want to scare you with pages and pages of alarming statistics on child injuries and deaths in the United States–you are probably well aware of it and are rightfully concerned. For most parents, the question isn’t whether some form of childproofing should be done: the question is who is going to do it?
If you are, however, looking for a comprehensive study on child safety at home, you should take a look at the report by Safe Kids Worldwide. If you have never thought about the specifics of babyproofing and childproofing, it might be a real eye-opener.
So, what does it take to childproof your home? For all of you DIY enthusiasts, yes, it’s not rocket science and anyone with a knack for home improvement and carpentry can do it.
However, one needs to keep in mind that there are two aspects to babyproofing or childproofing: know-how and labor. Know-how in this case is a set of technical skills required to spot and assess obvious and hidden hazards. As the old adage goes: You don’t know what you don’t know.
You cannot childproof a fireplace or a TV unless you know how; more importantly, you cannot childproof a water heater unless you thought that it may pose a hazard to your child; you cannot babyproof a bathroom unless you are aware of specific hazards, which include not just the tub or shower, but also certain objects that are very common in most bathrooms yet are not usually thought of as potential hazards.
Before embarking on a DYI childproofing project, ask yourself: Do I have the technical knowledge to make the correct assessment of my home and spot all the hidden dangers, some of which may be unique to my home? Am I ready to create a comprehensive list of all the parts and materials needed for the job, and do I know where to purchase the quality parts? Finally, am I comfortable performing the labor, and is it worth my time to do all of the above?
We run a transparent and straightforward business. This is why we have posted a lengthy comparison of DIY childproofing vs hiring professionals. You might be surprised that when taken into account parts, labor, and the time required to do research (aka watching YouTube videos that may or may not cover all the hazards fond in your home), it might be actually cheaper to hire a team of professionals than do it yourself.