RISK-FREE RUG RATS

By Shanna Hogan
Photo by Ross Martin

You know those wire spring doorstops mounted behind every door in your home? If you are like most homeowners, you probably know that they are there, but likely don’t spend much time concerned with their potential safety hazards.

Scottsdale resident Dustin Dastrup, however, thinks about those doorstops ever single work day. More specifically, he thinks about the tiny rubber caps on the end of those springs.

“Those doorstops are the No. 1 choking hazard inside the home, aside from food,” says Dustin. “That little white tip on the end comes off, and it becomes a choking hazard. And that little wire thing—that can pinch fingers.”

Doorstops are just one of many hazards new parents tend to overlook when infants begin crawling. As a child proofer, it’s Dustin’s job to replace those doorstops with soft plastic ones. He also installs cabinet and toilet-seat locks, electricity-outlet covers, finger guards, deck gates and a slew of other tools to make the home toddler-safe.

As new parents have become more safety-conscious, child proofing has evolved into a booming business. Each day Dustin says his company receives at least two calls from parents with a desire to increase safety for their kids. Dustin began working as a child proofer when he was a teenager, and last year he and his mother, Nancy Dastrup, purchased Arizona Childproofers.

New parents often overlook safety hazards, Nancy says, and it’s the job of Arizona Childproofers to provide peace of mind.

“Some new parents think, ‘Well, I’m not going to take my eye off my child.’ Then they realize, as life goes on, you can sneeze and your child gets hurt,” says Nancy. “So what we do is help to create a safe environment for the baby to do their exploring…If we can create that safe environment, it takes a big weight off the parents’ shoulders.”