How To Babyproof Your Home

Babyproofing your home may appear to be a simple process until you begin. With sharp corners and electrical plugs everywhere, your perfectly regular living room suddenly feels like the most deadly place in the world for your baby. That’s why knowing how to babyproof your home is a significant undertaking, and you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to make sure it’s as secure as possible for your child.

You don’t have to start before your baby is born, but it’s a good idea to finish the items on your babyproofing checklist before your child begins crawling. Some babies can begin as early as six months. It can be overwhelming, but don’t worry; you’ll be OK.

Preventing Accidents From Happening

Babyproofing your home aims to identify and remove anything that could be dangerous or damaging. Go from room to room, getting down low, or even sitting on the floor to observe things through your baby’s eyes. Consider what a toddling, scooting toddler could pull down on top of him (or her), put into his mouth, hit his head on, catch his fingers in, or tumble over.

Remove anything that could be pulled down or put into a child’s mouth. Anything that could fall over should be attached to the wall with furniture straps or placed in an area where your baby will not be.

In our babyproofing checklist, we’ve listed some typical dangers, but every home is unique. So, ensure your list is tailored to your family’s requirements, so your child is secure when he begins exploring. There are several phases to babyproofing your home, so let’s get started!

Stairs.

If you have stairs in your home, install baby gates at both the top and bottom. There are many different types of baby gates available, but for stairwells, screws into the walls with installed hardware are the safest option. Before purchasing a gate, measure the width of your stairwell opening and look for one that will fit under or around the handrail. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, stairs are one of the ten most prevalent sources of injury for toddlers and small children.

Windows.

Screens will not safeguard your youngster from falling out of windows. If possible, keep your windows closed and your furniture away from them.

Casement window cranks should be removed. If you like to keep your windows open, you can limit the distance a window can open by installing screw-in window guards or using window stoppers. Also, keep an eye out for blind and shade cables, which might be a strangulation threat. You can tie up hanging wires with cord cleats or cut any cord loops to shorten them and/or remove the continuous loop.

Electricity outlets.

Make sure all electrical outlets are covered, including those hidden behind furniture. Ensure that all electrical cords are concealed, taped down, or otherwise out of reach.

Doors.

Some parents believe that door or finger pinch protectors can help safeguard their children’s fingertips from getting squeezed or jammed in doors. You should get doorknob coverings for doors that lead to potentially dangerous regions for your child before they start walking.

Furniture.

Keep an eye out for furniture that babies can pull on or climb, such as bookcases, dressers, and cabinets. Furniture straps are an excellent way to secure furniture and flat-screen televisions to walls. On one side, most furniture straps include a metal cable or a strong woven strap with brackets that screw into the wall. Screws or heavy-duty sticky pads are used to secure the furniture strap to the item on the other side.

Pets.

Always keep an eye on babies when they are near pets. Small children have been known to pull a pet’s fur or hit a pet. It is critical to ensure that pets are not frightened while napping. It’s also a good idea to keep animal food and water bowls behind closed doors and out of reach of babies because babies will put almost anything in their mouths.

Stove.

Install a stove guard or knob covers to prevent children from turning on the burners by accident. When cooking, utilize the back burners of the stove, and turn the pot and pan handles back, so children don’t grab them.

Drawers and doors.

Use babyproof latches or locks to secure the oven door, refrigerator, kitchen drawers, and cupboards.

Appliances.

Move appliances (toasters, coffee makers, irons) away from counter edges and low shelves, and wrap tape or otherwise secure their electrical cables.

Cleaning Materials.

Remove cleaning goods, such as dishwashers and laundry pods, from easy reach. Be especially cautious of brightly colored goods that resemble or smell like sweets.

Utensils and dishes.

Knives and cutlery should be kept out of reach of children. For babies, use lightweight plastic dishes and utensils with rounded edges.

Bathtubs.

Never leave a small child alone in the bathtub. Always drain the tub promptly after taking a bath. Make sure that any equipment, such as hair dryers, curling irons, and radios, are placed away from the tub and that their power cables are tucked away and out of reach.

Medicine.

Keep all tablets and medications out of reach of children and request childproof lids when picking up prescriptions.

Fireplaces.

Install a safety screen around the fireplace and keep any fireplace tools out of reach of children.

Sharp edges.

On items with sharp edges, such as coffee tables and bookcases, use padded corner protectors. Foam pieces adhered with double-sided tape are an excellent choice.

Cribs.

Make sure your crib fulfills safety regulations, and create a safe zone surrounding it to keep your child from grabbing window shades, art, mirrors, decorations, and so on. Many cribs allow you to lower the mattress, which may help your child avoid climbing out of his crib or falling as he learns to stand. Make sure the crib is free of bumpers, pillows, blankets, and toys, as they might cause asphyxia. And always place baby in a cot with tight-fitting covers on his back.

Cars.

Keep keys out of reach of youngsters and newborns, and don’t allow them to play in the car. When you arrive at your location, double-check that everyone has exited the vehicle and secure it when not in use. Before pulling your car out of the garage or driveway, ensure sure all youngsters are safely out of the path.

Swimming pools and water.

Never leave wading pools or buckets with standing water. Install a locking gate around your pool to prevent children and dogs from out. If possible, install an alarm on a pool’s gate door, so you know when someone opens it.

Take Things Room by Room When Babyproofing

Babyproofing your home may appear daunting, but it is easier if you approach it one room at a time. You are only required to complete some tasks at a time.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is another excellent resource for parents. This government agency ensures the safety of common household objects and issues recalls and warnings for unsafe products.

Meaningful articles you might like: Children’s Safety On School Buses, Keeping Kids Safe Around Guns, How to Keep Kids Safe Around Water