10 Ways to Childproof Windows for Kids Safety

The prominent research shows that approximately 5,000 children in the US fall out of open windows, including screened windows, every single year. I am sure you have never thought about how dangerous your window can be for your kids, especially toddlers.

Therefore, it is crucial to childproof windows to keep children older than one year safe from the moment they start crawling. There is no need to seal your windows permanently. Your kids will grow up quickly, and you need a few efficient ways to make your windows safe for a few years.

1. Childproof Window Locks

It seems that the most effective option to childproof windows in your home is to lock all of them. Nowadays, you can find window locks for every kind of window. Most contemporary models have built-in locks with keys, and you can prevent them from opening successfully.

The excellent thing is that they are practical and easy-to-install. If your house is newer, you have already had windows that lock closed, which makes the situation more comfortable.

Otherwise, you can buy simple sash locks in a local hardware store, and use them to childproof windows in your home. The downside of this solution is that you need to keep windows closed all the time, which can be quite inconvenient.

2. Childproof Window Guards

You can install these grille-type guards no matter what type and size of windows you have. This equipment is one of the best solutions to childproof windows, which allows opening the windows at the same time.

The advantage of window guards is that your toddler can’t open them. However, they are still easy-to-open for you, allowing the safe exit in case of an emergency. The downside of this option is aesthetic since the construction resembles jail bars.

The better option is to install vertical bars to prevent your kid from using them as a ladder. Also, take care to pick out the model with the gaps between bars that are no wider than 4 inches (10 cm).

Be aware that window guards support only some window styles, including:

3. Childproof Mesh Window Guards

Some parents avoid putting their children behind bars, so a mesh window guard is an excellent and more eye-catching solution. The installation of the mesh is not too complicated, but you should be careful with the screws.

They can unwind over time, so you should check them from time to time. Plus, this option will work for you only if your widow size matches the dimensions of the mash. Namely, it fits windows 26 to 40 inches (0.7 – 1 m) wide.

4. Childproof Window Stoppers

You can install wedge-like plastic window stoppers in most windows in your home, including sliding, single-hung, and double-hung ones. These convenient triangular-shaped devices will prevent windows from opening more than 4 inches (10 cm).

You can find them in the local hardware store or order them online. The advantage of stoppers is that you can quickly adjust and remove them when needed. Plus, they are unobtrusive and won’t disturb the appearance of your windows.

Their primary disadvantage of this solution is that you can’t open the window wide to allow unobstructed airflow in the room.

5. Childproof Window Stops

You can install this childproof window wedge on your sliding, single-hung, and double-hung windows. These small devices shut the window when your kid tries to open it.

That way, it is impossible for the child to open the pane more than 4 inches (10 cm), which is narrow enough that your baby can’t fall out of the window.

6. Childproof Window Charlie Bar

Unfortunately, you can use this useful device only for sliding windows. It is basically a metallic stick you should place between the two panes, which will prevent a kid from opening a window. Its simplicity makes Charlie Bar an ideal way to childproof windows.

The downside of this method is that Charlie Bar works just for small children. Once they grow up, your kids will probably be able to reach and remove it.

7. Childproof Window Blinds

Closed window blinds as a part of childproof windows offer decent protection to your child. However, they can be quite dangerous because of all those cords.

Luckily, you can find cordless shades these days and use them to replace your old window blinds. Plus, you can pick out a suitable model to match your home decor.

The best options you can find on the market are the motorized window blinds. They have no cords, which makes them safe for your kids. The only thing you need to do is to charge the motors once in three months.

8. Childproof Window Screens

Installing window screens can’t keep your kid safe from falling through them, and you should combine them with window guards. However, they have another vital purpose. By using them, you will save your child from injury if the glass breaks.

However, keep in mind that this film won’t prevent cracking or breaking the glass. Its purpose is to holds pieces of glass stuck together and prevents them from scattering around the apartment.

If you have tempered glass on your windows, it will break into tiny pieces in the event of an accident. Other types of glass are not so secure. Therefore, using window screens, especially on low parts panes, will childproof windows in your home successfully.

It will work ideally on:

Plus, they will further insulate your house. As a result, you can expect lower electricity bills due to less use of a window air conditioner.

9. Childproof Non-Standard Windows

The windows installed in some old houses are usually non-standard. Therefore, some new solutions fitting contemporary windows won’t work with them.

Fortunately, there is a quick DIY way to childproof windows, even though they are unusual dimensions or styles. For that job, you will need just a few pieces of tools:

• Velcro strip
• Lexan sheet
• Glue
• Measuring tape

Instructions

Start by measuring the space across the frame and vertically over your window. In most cases, you will probably need to protect only the lower half of the window.

Go to the local store and buy a Lexan sheet based on the measures taken. Then, attach the Velcro strip to the Lexan sheet sides and glue it to the window frame.

Since the Lexan sheet will prevent free airflow, you can drill some holes before installing it. It is an excellent option for every window since it keeps your child safe without blocking the light entering the room.

10. Childproof Window Sill

Never overlook the window sill when trying to childproof windows in your house. It is especially vital if you have low windows since you don’t want your kid to step to the window sill and fall on or from it. Plus, you can soften harsh edges and prevent possible injuries by adding a few pillows around the window.

Additional Tips

Once your toddler starts climbing to explore its environment, you should plan to install childproof windows and protect your baby from falling out. However, there are a few useful tips to protect the child further. Let’s see.

Keep furniture away from windows

Move furniture, such as dressers, couches, and big armchairs away from your windows.

Use Window Cord Retrofit Kits

Window blinds contain cords that allow them to be opened and closed. Therefore, you should find a safe way to remove these strings away from your kid.

It will be the best solution to replace them with a cordless model of blinds, but sometimes it is enough to install window cord retrofit kits. It will hide cables and prevent possible incidents in the future.

Remove handles

If you have crank windows, you should remove handles from them whenever possible. It is a free option but not so practical since you can’t open your window either. However, this way, you can prevent your child from opening the window when you are not in the room.

When removing cranks is not possible, and you have not any other way of protection, you should try to avoid leaving your small children unattended.

Choose windows that open from the top

There are two types of sliding windows on the market. Since you can choose the one that opens from either the top or the bottom, you should always pick out the first model, if possible.

It is reasonable to believe that your kid will have more difficulties to reach the top than the bottom of the window.

Window alarms

You can also install window alarms just in case. It will sound as soon as your kid opens the window and alert you right away.

Teach your kids to stay away from windows

By teaching a kid to avoid playing around windows, you can prevent a lot of troubles. Explain the consequences of opening the window and playing with the window blind cords.

You can’t do that when the child is still young, but you can start talking as soon as possible. That way, you will have peace of mind, and your child will be protected adequately.

Mother, police officers rescue 7-year-old child hanging from Mississauga apartment window

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Bryann Aguilar, Web Content Writer, CP24

A mother and four Peel Regional Police officers are being praised for saving a seven-year-old child from falling out of a sixth-floor apartment window in Mississauga Friday afternoon.

It happened in the area of Erindale Station Road and Dundas Street West shortly after 5 p.m.

Peel police said the child was playing near a window when he «slipped out.»

After hearing her child’s cries, the mother ran and grabbed her child, police said. However, she was unable to pull him to safety.

Const. Alvin Bayley, who is just six months into the job, was the first to arrive at the scene. He told CP24 he was immediately flagged by the person who called 911.

«I looked up, and I actually saw the child fully hanging out. I wasn’t expecting him to be fully out.

«I thought he might have been just half out, but he was fully out, his mother was half out, and she was screaming,» Bayley said.

He remembered telling the mother to calm down as he tried to clear the scene so fire crews could get immediate access to the window.

However, Bayley said the situation went from zero to 100 quickly. The mother informed him that the boy’s shirt was starting to rip.

Bayley knew that the amount of time they had to rescue the child had dramatically decreased.

«I decided to run the stairs up to the sixth floor and try to kick the door open,» he said.

Const. Martin Boreczek was at the end of his shift. He was pulling into the police station parking lot when he heard a panic call over the radio about the developing situation.

«There’s no way I’m just going to pack up and go home,» he said. «I have three small kids, so I went rushing over.»

Boreczek, and two other officers – Sgt. Shaun Stanley and Const. Ihor Palchynskyy — arrived at the apartment unit and helped Bailey open the door.

Armed with a battering ram and a pry bar, all four worked to gain entry to the unit.

«We collectively rushed into the bedroom. The boy was hanging out the window, and his mom was clutching onto him,» Boreczek recalled.

«And she’s crying, saying I’m losing my grip and the shirt’s ripping.»

There was another problem. With the mother half out of the sliding window, there was nowhere for the officers to pull the child.

Boreczek said he then used the pry bar and smashed the other half of the window.

«As soon as I did that, these three without any hesitation with broken shards of glass poking through everywhere reached in and started pulling them off,» he said.

Boreczek, who received six stitches on his left hand, recalled that there was a collective sigh of relief after the rescue.

Police said the child did not suffer any physical injuries.

Their actions did not go unnoticed. Mississauga MPP Rudy Cuzzetto applauded their «heroic» efforts to save the child.

For Stanley, he knew that if the boy fell out of the window, it would have been life-altering.

«It just feels like we’re doing our job as we were asked to do. It’s no different than any other evening or any other call to respond to,» Stanley said when asked if he considers themselves heroes.

«The four of us are here because we were the four that made it into the apartment but forget that. It was a whole team effort.»

Palchynskyy said he is thrilled that both mother and child are safe. He admitted that the thoughts running through his head at the time «might not have been the best.»

«I have young kids, and all I was thinking about is that we need to get into that apartment to help that child and the mom because I would never wish anything like that to any of the parents,» he said.

«I want to give props to the mother who is the real mama bear, and she was holding on to the child for a few minutes before we got there. She did an amazing job.»

Quick thinking and even faster reaction by 4 uniformed officers. Cst Ihor Palchynskyy, Cst Alvin Bailey, Sgt Shaun Stanley and Cst Martin Boreczek, prevented a 7yr old boy from falling out of the 6th floor window of an apartment unit. Great work by all #EverydayHero @PeelPolice https://t.co/5qog2kw0kY pic.twitter.com/R8gk3VqIG4

— Deputy Chief Marc Andrews (@DeputyAndrews) August 15, 2020

Creating a Child Process with Redirected Input and Output

The example in this topic demonstrates how to create a child process using the CreateProcess function from a console process. It also demonstrates a technique for using anonymous pipes to redirect the child process’s standard input and output handles. Note that named pipes can also be used to redirect process I/O.

The CreatePipe function uses the SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES structure to create inheritable handles to the read and write ends of two pipes. The read end of one pipe serves as standard input for the child process, and the write end of the other pipe is the standard output for the child process. These pipe handles are specified in the STARTUPINFO structure, which makes them the standard handles inherited by the child process.

The parent process uses the opposite ends of these two pipes to write to the child process’s input and read from the child process’s output. As specified in the SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES structure, these handles are also inheritable. However, these handles must not be inherited. Therefore, before creating the child process, the parent process uses the SetHandleInformation function to ensure that the write handle for the child process’s standard input and the read handle for the child process’s standard output cannot be inherited. For more information, see Pipes.

The following is the code for the parent process. It takes a single command-line argument: the name of a text file.

The following is the code for the child process. It uses the inherited handles for STDIN and STDOUT to access the pipe created by the parent. The parent process reads from its input file and writes the information to a pipe. The child receives text through the pipe using STDIN and writes to the pipe using STDOUT. The parent reads from the read end of the pipe and displays the information to its STDOUT.