This is a serious question that came from a reporter doing a story for radaronline.com. She, as the mother of two who had done some babyproofing for her own children, felt that it was an intrusion to require Nadya (mother of the octuplets) to complete a short list of safety modifications. Not surprisingly, I could not disagree with her more strongly.
Apparently, a social worker’s report required floor and table lamps to be removed, bunk beds to be relocated away from windows, window coverings to be cord-free, barricading a fireplace and protection for an upstairs’ balcony. These “requirements”, I informed her, are really just best practices for households with even one or two children. In this case, apparently fourteen children under the age of six will be in a single household!
Most of us cannot fathom having so many little ones. Yet, it is frightening that as we can all empathize with the burden of parenting and providing for them, some of us do not appreciate the importance of assuring their safety. The concern for their safety transcends any moral judgment of the mother and how she got to this point. My comments herein would be the same if this were a day-care facility housing the same number of unrelated children. Even with constant supervision (that I would hope to be at least four caregivers at all times), there is much more that the social worker could have and probably should have required.
Preventing access to cabinets and electrical outlets and securing furniture to the wall are other basic things that will hopefully be addressed. The most significant hazard that was not mentioned was the need to prevent the upstairs windows from opening more than four inches. This is often easily accomplished with a simple latching device that an adult can override in the event of an emergency.
As any parent of multiples will attest, hazards in the home are all magnified when multiple little ones can “conspire” together to get in to trouble.
Probably the most onerous of the requirements was to rebuild the interior stairs so as to close the open risers (backs of the stairs). These are no longer code compliant as a child may either fall through or become entrapped in the openings. Again, this is something that should be addressed in any home.
I am glad to report that by the end of our interview, the reporter appeared to come around to realize that none of the “requirements” were excessive and all of them were in the best interest of the children. It is my hope that all of you will similarly advocate for the safety and well-being of children in your community by encouraging your neighbors, friends, parents, in-laws and grandparents to take the practical and proven steps to reduce the risk of injury at home.