How to baby proof the house- Checklist for baby proofing the house for your little one
Your home can be a brave new world full of adventure and conquest or the agony of defeat for your tiny baby who is currently wrapped like a burrito. It may seem odd to think of baby proofing when your child can’t even lift his neck, but you may be surprised at how soon they will turn into an eager crawler or a stuntman ready to explore and get into things.
Danger and hazard may lurk around every corner, from bathroom cabinets to kitchen drawers; here is how to baby proof your home to make it a safe haven for babies and toddlers with these childproofing techniques.
Baby proofing the house
Tackling the entire house at the same time may seem like a lot of work, but it is easy to manage if you break the process room by room. Baby proofing is an ongoing task though, so you may need to do it with each stage of a child’s development. It should be noted that adult supervision has no substitute.
Baby proofing the house, in general, is about making sure you have everything installed keeping safety standards in mind, now is the time to replace the broken windows, make sure that the renovations are up to date. And you are not just looking for things that pose a direct risk to your baby- anything that could harm you when you have your little one in your arms such as pointy furniture ends, slippery floors, hazardous plants, etc will need to be addressed too.
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: Make sure to install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on every story of your house. If you already have them installed make sure to test the batteries once a month so you know the batteries inside are fully charged.
Secure your TV and heavy furniture: Prevent heavy things from tipping over and falling onto your little climber by using safety straps to hold bookshelves, dressers, TVs, and other heavy furniture placed in any room.
Outlet covers: Put outlet covers on all ell exposed electrical sockets, this is a simple yet efficient way to stop tiny fingers, toys, and other small things from getting into these dangerous little openings. Some small outlet covers can be a choking hazard, look for childproof covers that require a strong grip to remove or use cover plates that screw on.
Paint job: Lead paint still exists in millions of old homes, peeling or chipping paint may represent the source of lead exposure and if babies and toddlers crawling around or touching those surfaces ingest paint chips that contain lead, it can cause cognitive problems.
Tie up electrical cables: Use cord holders to fasten cables and longer cords against walls such as computers, home entertainment centers, lamps, Wi-Fi routers and, household appliances. That way, your little way can’t tug; chew on a tangle of electrical wiring.
Baby proofing the nursery
Can you suss out 10 trouble spot in this nursery?
In this, no-tip furniture, cordless or high window blinds are all wise moves when it comes to making your baby’s nursery a safe space.
Crib:
Avoid using fluffy bedding, soft pillows, bumpers, comforters or stuffed animals. A bare crib is safest of all. When your baby pulls up, put the mattress in the lowest setting and remove mobiles and hanging toys because they are too tempting to grab. Don’t leave toys in the crib with a sleeping baby.
Toy box:
An open toy box is better than the one with a lid or a zipper, as crafty toddlers may get their fingers and heads getting slammed also the suffocation risk. Alternately, go for toy chests with slow closing hinges
Furniture:
Mount baby’s Chester or dresser securely to the wall, along with other heavy furniture that could potentially tip over and hurt your little one
Window blinds: Child-safe Window cords are best in the nursery or attach breakaway safety tassels. Never put a crib or child’s bed near the window you never know when he will learn to pull up in the crib and start reaching for things. Those dangling cords can be a choking hazard
Baby proofing the living room
The living room contains plenty of hot spots like sharp furniture, a fireplace, and lamps. The biggest risk in this room is fall and encounters with furniture that has sharp edges.
Use Window guards
Some childproofing gadgets are a blessing like adjustable window guards that are pressure mounted that have quick-release mechanisms to allow for escape during emergencies.
Use furniture guards
Protect your little crawling explorer from fireplace hearths and coffee tables with padding and long foam guards to prevent bumps and bruises.
Use furniture anchors
Creepers and crawlers are constantly looking for things to get a leg up like bookshelves or an electronic device, but it is a dangerous endeavor. Most children use furniture to balance themselves when they are learning to walk, but if a heavy piece of furniture is not secure, it could tip over on children and cause serious injuries, but that is preventable with furniture anchors.
Baby proofing the kitchen
Kitchen dangers include high heat from the stove, glass crockery, sharp objects, and cleaning products.
Cabinets and locks
Banging pots, spoons and pans is a sacred right of childhood, so if you are willing to let your baby explore some cupboards in the kitchen that is okay.
Inspect your kitchen and lock away any potential hazards like paints, cleaning supplies chemicals, matches, medicines, breakable dishes, and sharp objects
Use knob covers
Shiny knob covers are a lot of fun to twist and turn, and while it is a wonderful motor practice, safety covers for stove knobs can keep your little tyke from turning them on. It is also a good idea to use the back burners to cook so pot handles aren’t reachable by your toddler. Stove covers are also helpful in keeping little fingers away from burns
Unplug appliances
Unplug all kitchen appliances and stash cords, even if they are out of reach, far back on the kitchen counter because you will have a curious climber sooner than you anticipated. Make sure there are no dangling cords of appliances like coffee machines, mixers, or toasters
Baby proofing the bathroom
Since this is the room where one can find water, medications, and cleaning supplies, it requires some baby proofing attention
Potty precautions
Get a lock for your toilet, seriously! The water in the toiler lid can look like an inviting bowl of water as a place to play for a curious child. Ewww! So to prevent problems and drowning hazards remember to always keep the toilet lid down and secured with a lid lock
Garbage cans and buckets
Curious kids love to sift through and possibly taste the contents of the garbage cans. Buckets that could gather water attract interested kids and pose a drowning threat.
The fix: store bins and buckets in a locked cabinet or store them out of your child’s reach
Keep your razors out of reach
Babies love playing with bath toys when they are in the tub and your razor might look like a toy to them they haven’t gotten to play with yet.
Manage your medication
Store all medicines, health supplements, and yes, even vitamins in a high locked cabinet. Never take the medicine out of its original childproof packaging. Try not to take medicine in front of your child because they often look like candy. Many kids imitate their parents and make the mistake of eating a handful of pills mistaking them for candy.
Phew- feeling overwhelmed?
Parents deal with so much that is beyond our control. The checklist you have to go over may seem like a lot of work at first, but it goes surprisingly quickly once you get started. Baby proofing your home makes it safer, once you are satisfied with your baby-proofing efforts, you’ll love the peace of mind that your baby or toddler can safely walk around and explore your home under your administration.
Some last few tips:
- Place safety guards on stairways because they always look like an interesting challenge to an exploring child. a few precautions around your stairway will prevent possible injuries
- Place the high chair away from areas where your baby can reach out and grab potentially dangerous things
- Once your baby is mobile, her movements can be sudden, so never leave her on a heightened surface to avoid the risk of a fall
- Make sure all of your houseplants are non-toxic.
- Keep your visitors handbags out of reach as they can hold toiletries and other toxic substances like medicines
- Don’t use table mats or table runners, as your baby will tug them, and anything that is on them will fall down
- Be diligent about anything at the child level that could be a choking hazard like coins, marbles, grapes, blueberries, and hard candies
- Cover heating vents and radiators to prevent burns
- Don’t leave your baby unattended in or near a pool or in the bath. If you have a pool, put fencing around with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Danger and hazard may lurk around every corner, from bathroom cabinets to kitchen drawers; here is how to baby proof your home to make it a safe haven for babies and toddlers with these childproofing techniques.
Baby proofing the house
Tackling the entire house at the same time may seem like a lot of work, but it is easy to manage if you break the process room by room. Baby proofing is an ongoing task though, so you may need to do it with each stage of a child’s development. It should be noted that adult supervision has no substitute.
Baby proofing the house, in general, is about making sure you have everything installed keeping safety standards in mind, now is the time to replace the broken windows, make sure that the renovations are up to date. And you are not just looking for things that pose a direct risk to your baby- anything that could harm you when you have your little one in your arms such as pointy furniture ends, slippery floors, hazardous plants, etc will need to be addressed too.
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: Make sure to install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on every story of your house. If you already have them installed make sure to test the batteries once a month so you know the batteries inside are fully charged.
Secure your TV and heavy furniture: Prevent heavy things from tipping over and falling onto your little climber by using safety straps to hold bookshelves, dressers, TVs, and other heavy furniture placed in any room.
Outlet covers: Put outlet covers on all ell exposed electrical sockets, this is a simple yet efficient way to stop tiny fingers, toys, and other small things from getting into these dangerous little openings. Some small outlet covers can be a choking hazard, look for childproof covers that require a strong grip to remove or use cover plates that screw on.
Paint job: Lead paint still exists in millions of old homes, peeling or chipping paint may represent the source of lead exposure and if babies and toddlers crawling around or touching those surfaces ingest paint chips that contain lead, it can cause cognitive problems.
Tie up electrical cables: Use cord holders to fasten cables and longer cords against walls such as computers, home entertainment centers, lamps, Wi-Fi routers and, household appliances. That way, your little way can’t tug; chew on a tangle of electrical wiring.
Baby proofing the nursery
Can you suss out 10 trouble spot in this nursery?
In this, no-tip furniture, cordless or high window blinds are all wise moves when it comes to making your baby’s nursery a safe space.
Crib:
Avoid using fluffy bedding, soft pillows, bumpers, comforters or stuffed animals. A bare crib is safest of all. When your baby pulls up, put the mattress in the lowest setting and remove mobiles and hanging toys because they are too tempting to grab. Don’t leave toys in the crib with a sleeping baby.
Toy box:
An open toy box is better than the one with a lid or a zipper, as crafty toddlers may get their fingers and heads getting slammed also the suffocation risk. Alternately, go for toy chests with slow closing hinges
Furniture:
Mount baby’s Chester or dresser securely to the wall, along with other heavy furniture that could potentially tip over and hurt your little one
Window blinds: Child-safe Window cords are best in the nursery or attach breakaway safety tassels. Never put a crib or child’s bed near the window you never know when he will learn to pull up in the crib and start reaching for things. Those dangling cords can be a choking hazard
Baby proofing the living room
The living room contains plenty of hot spots like sharp furniture, a fireplace, and lamps. The biggest risk in this room is fall and encounters with furniture that has sharp edges.
Use Window guards
Some childproofing gadgets are a blessing like adjustable window guards that are pressure mounted that have quick-release mechanisms to allow for escape during emergencies.
Use furniture guards
Protect your little crawling explorer from fireplace hearths and coffee tables with padding and long foam guards to prevent bumps and bruises.
Use furniture anchors
Creepers and crawlers are constantly looking for things to get a leg up like bookshelves or an electronic device, but it is a dangerous endeavor. Most children use furniture to balance themselves when they are learning to walk, but if a heavy piece of furniture is not secure, it could tip over on children and cause serious injuries, but that is preventable with furniture anchors.
Baby proofing the kitchen
Kitchen dangers include high heat from the stove, glass crockery, sharp objects, and cleaning products.
Cabinets and locks
Banging pots, spoons and pans is a sacred right of childhood, so if you are willing to let your baby explore some cupboards in the kitchen that is okay.
Inspect your kitchen and lock away any potential hazards like paints, cleaning supplies chemicals, matches, medicines, breakable dishes, and sharp objects
Use knob covers
Shiny knob covers are a lot of fun to twist and turn, and while it is a wonderful motor practice, safety covers for stove knobs can keep your little tyke from turning them on. It is also a good idea to use the back burners to cook so pot handles aren’t reachable by your toddler. Stove covers are also helpful in keeping little fingers away from burns
Unplug appliances
Unplug all kitchen appliances and stash cords, even if they are out of reach, far back on the kitchen counter because you will have a curious climber sooner than you anticipated. Make sure there are no dangling cords of appliances like coffee machines, mixers, or toasters
Baby proofing the bathroom
Since this is the room where one can find water, medications, and cleaning supplies, it requires some baby proofing attention
Potty precautions
Get a lock for your toilet, seriously! The water in the toiler lid can look like an inviting bowl of water as a place to play for a curious child. Ewww! So to prevent problems and drowning hazards remember to always keep the toilet lid down and secured with a lid lock
Garbage cans and buckets
Curious kids love to sift through and possibly taste the contents of the garbage cans. Buckets that could gather water attract interested kids and pose a drowning threat.
The fix: store bins and buckets in a locked cabinet or store them out of your child’s reach
Keep your razors out of reach
Babies love playing with bath toys when they are in the tub and your razor might look like a toy to them they haven’t gotten to play with yet.
Manage your medication
Store all medicines, health supplements, and yes, even vitamins in a high locked cabinet. Never take the medicine out of its original childproof packaging. Try not to take medicine in front of your child because they often look like candy. Many kids imitate their parents and make the mistake of eating a handful of pills mistaking them for candy.
Phew- feeling overwhelmed?
Parents deal with so much that is beyond our control. The checklist you have to go over may seem like a lot of work at first, but it goes surprisingly quickly once you get started. Baby proofing your home makes it safer, once you are satisfied with your baby-proofing efforts, you’ll love the peace of mind that your baby or toddler can safely walk around and explore your home under your administration.
Some last few tips:
- Place safety guards on stairways because they always look like an interesting challenge to an exploring child. a few precautions around your stairway will prevent possible injuries
- Place the high chair away from areas where your baby can reach out and grab potentially dangerous things
- Once your baby is mobile, her movements can be sudden, so never leave her on a heightened surface to avoid the risk of a fall
- Make sure all of your houseplants are non-toxic.
- Keep your visitors handbags out of reach as they can hold toiletries and other toxic substances like medicines
- Don’t use table mats or table runners, as your baby will tug them, and anything that is on them will fall down
- Be diligent about anything at the child level that could be a choking hazard like coins, marbles, grapes, blueberries, and hard candies
- Cover heating vents and radiators to prevent burns
- Don’t leave your baby unattended in or near a pool or in the bath. If you have a pool, put fencing around with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
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