Looking for a Tooting home for you and your children? It’s always best to check how safe it is for them – Marsh & Parsons Tooting share their safety tips in their latest blog.

Tooting is fast gaining a reputation as a fabulous place to raise your children. With the 200-acre Tooting Commons, Tooting Bec Lido (the UK’s biggest outdoor freshwater pool), and a thriving community, it’s no wonder that it’s becoming a more popular place than ever for families to put down roots.

The properties in Tooting themselves are also wonderful places to grow up in. The area is mostly made up of generously sized Victorian and Edwardian buildings – perfect for growing families. On the other end of the spectrum, a new build is a perfect blank canvas for you to create your forever home.
 

Both styles of building, though, do have certain features which may be less than ideal for your children. Read on for ways to keep your Tooting home safe for your little ones.
 

If you have a period property

Undoubtedly one of the best things about Victorian and Edwardian properties is their fireplaces with original features. Throw kids into the mix, however, and it’s a different story.

The obvious thing to do is to buy a fire gate with enough space to keep your child away from sparks and embers – make sure to keep your tools inside the gate! A more aesthetically pleasing solution may be to stop having fires for a couple of years, and instead fill your fireplace – books or logs of wood are attractive options. Or simply leave it empty to allow its period features to take centre stage.
 

Period buildings often have uneven, steep staircases. These can be tricky to childproof as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, apart from getting a gate for the top and bottom. Getting on your child’s level to check for danger can help – are there any loose nails or uneven steps? If you have wooden floors consider a carpet or a runner to minimise risk of slips.

Sash windows, a feature of many period properties, are also risky for little ones. Window restrictors are essential to ensure that they don’t manage to open the window and fall out, or drop it and catch their hands or fingers.
 

If you have a new build

New build homes are often known for having ‘snags’. Cupboard doors or draws that don’t close properly are a common one so conduct an audit of your kitchen and bathroom to check that any dangerous household items are securely stored away. It’s also worth double checking your window handles to ensure they’re securely shut when your children are roaming the house. Finally, we’d recommend double checking any workmanship on skirting boards or stairs to ensure that there are no sharp edges for kids to catch themselves on.
 

If you have a garden

Gardens in London aren’t known for their size, but if you do have the space then consider creating a dedicated area for your children that is sectioned off with fencing or hedges. This will keep them away from potential dangers and has a bonus of containing their toys. If your garden is on the smaller side, make sure any sharp objects are tidied away and be sure to check for broken glass if it’s near a walkway. Test any older garden walls for stability and childproof any gates if need be – the last thing you want is your little ones slipping out without you knowing!
 

Want to know more?

We’re passionate about helping you realise your home’s full potential, whether it’s keeping it safe, giving tips on design or anything in between! Keep an eye on our blog for more details: www.marshandparsons.co.uk/blog 
 

Marsh & Parsons Tooting is an award-winning estate agent and one of our valued Community Partners. Find them at 29-31 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7TS. Call John-Paul (sales) or Matthew (lettings) on 020 8115 8053.

Click here to view local properties for sale and here for lettings.

Find out more on their website, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Find out more about our Community Partners here.