How to Arrange a Kitchen if There Is a Small Child in the House

A young mother often faces the problem of how to cook dinner or lunch if no one can watch over the child. The answer is simple – take the child to the kitchen! Of course, first make it safe and as convenient as possible.

1. Hide all potentially dangerous items

Knives and forks, small household appliances, long electrical cables can attract a child's attention. And these are the most potentially dangerous items. To avoid temptation, anything that could theoretically cause harm should be placed higher or hidden in drawers. These can be locked with a lock or fitted with a safety latch.

2. Secure the stove

Special models of cooktops and stoves have handles placed not on the front panel but above. It is much harder for a child to reach them.

Moreover, it is advisable to choose a model with recessed ventilation slots that must be pressed before turning.

The safest stove model is induction, as its surface does not heat up as much even during operation.

3. Install a dishwasher

Dangers may not be visible but can be very subtle. For example, harmful bacteria or residue of cleaning agents on children's dishes can pose a risk.

A solution might be a dishwasher. Bosch dishwashers come with the "Hygiene+" function: dishes are washed at elevated temperatures, and cleaning agents fully dissolve.

4. Hide outlets

It's ideal if the placement of outlets is planned in advance to keep them hidden from view. If they are within reach, use special covers to hide them. The same recommendation applies to all electrical appliances on the kitchen. It is better if they have a child-lock feature so that toddlers cannot use them independently.

5. Purchase step stools

There are many different types of step stools, but they can also be made at home if desired. Main criteria: it should be easy for a child to climb up, stable and durable. A child will find it interesting to be at the same level as mom, older children can even be given simple tasks. When kids grow up, a step stool with steps will come in handy to reach items stored in high cupboards.

6. Choose suitable flooring

If you are designing a kitchen from scratch, especially pay attention to the choice of floor covering. A baby will constantly spill something, drop food and litter, so the floor material should be practical and easy to clean. For these reasons, it's better to avoid cozy rugs. Also, the floor should not be slippery. Textured linoleum or unpolished ceramic granite may be preferred.

7. Install a children's play kitchen

If space allows, set up a small child-size toy kitchen on the main kitchen. In the worst case, just designate some dishes like unbreakable plastic and metal ones so that a child can play with them. This gives the impression that you are cooking together. Such games can also interest very young children who have just learned to crawl.