Tips for Childproofing Your Short-Term Rental

As a parent, you do everything you can to keep your little ones safe at home. However, a variety of seemingly insignificant items within your property can become major hazards for young children.

The same goes for families when traveling. If your guests include children, you'll need to take the necessary precautions to ensure your vacation rental is safe for all ages. To keep your younger guests out of harm’s way, implement these safety precautions at your short-term rental property.

Window Safety

Although windows can offer access to sunlight and circulate fresh air in your property, they can also pose serious safety hazards. The two main causes of window injuries are falls and strangulation from the looped cords on draperies, blinds and shades.

When childproofing your vacation rental property, windows are one of the first things you should check. A window accident can be fatal, so it's extremely important to do all that you can to prevent something from happening. Install childproof locks and latches and make sure to remove any furniture that children can climb on to gain access to the window opening.

Remove Fragile Objects

Children love to touch and feel everything. If you have any fragile or sharp objects in your vacation rental, it's wise to remove them. Items such as vases, decorative plates and glass objects should be stored away.

Anchor Down Furniture

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a child is rushed to the emergency room approximately every 30 minutes due to furniture or electronics falling or tipping over on them. Taking a few extra minutes to anchor your furniture could protect a child from a fatal injury. Although you should always follow the anchoring kit’s instructions for proper installation, here are some basic guidelines to follow:

• Install the brackets as high as possible on the back of your furniture.
• Secure your wall anchor into a wall stud or sturdy base.
• Tighten the restraints between the wall anchor and the furniture bracket to make sure the connection is secure.

Keep Cleaning Products Out of Reach

Accidental poisoning is a leading cause of death among children. It's a major source of fear for parents, so it’s crucial that you secure your cleaning products. To safeguard children, it’s important to store these substances in locked, childproof cabinets. In addition, to prevent accidental poisoning, you should never store food and cleaning supplies in the same area.

Secure Swimming Pools & Hot Tubs

Having a pool or a jacuzzi at your short-term rental can allow your guests to cool off in the summer heat and relax — it also comes with serious responsibilities. After all, swimming pools can present significant safety hazards and potential liability risks for all ages.

Ensure that all doors and gates that lead to the pool have locks and are self-closing. Don’t forget to clearly address your pool rules around the perimeter and in your house rules.

Conduct a Final Sweep

It is always a wise idea to double-check for potential hazards. Conduct a safety evaluation from a child’s perspective. Visit every room of the household, kneel to a child’s height and look for potential dangers.

Pay attention to dangling wires, electrical sockets, uneven floors and sharp edges. Even your basic everyday items can present a risk for young children.

Offer a Guidebook Suited for Children

In your welcome booklet or even your property listing, list out the kid-friendly attractions near your property. Restaurants and parks are also great to include in your book. If you want to go the extra mile, attach a coloring sheet printout or a few written games to the end of the welcome booklet. Parents will appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Promote Your Rental as Family Friendly in Your Listing

Families are one of the largest demographics searching on listing sites such as VRBO and Airbnb. Make sure to call out on your listing that your property is family-friendly. You can even go as far as naming all the extra things you’ve done to make it clear that your property is suited for children.

A Worry-Free Stay With CBIZ Vacation Rental Insurance

Don’t wait until it’s too late to childproof your short-term rental. The easiest way to prevent accidents is to eliminate hazards before families visit and their children get curious. While you can only do so much to protect the younger ones, comprehensive vacation rental insurance can help with the rest. Connect with a team member today at CBIZ Vacation Rental Insurance and request a free quote.

This blog may contain scenarios that are provided as examples only. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. The information provided is general in nature and may be affected by changes in law or the interpretation of such laws. The reader is advised to contact a professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.

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