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CartHere’s How to Babyproof Your Home
Having a new baby is an exciting time for the whole family. Keeping your little one safe is one of the most important aspects of being a parent. Thankfully, there are things you can do to make your home a safer place for mobile babies and toddlers who try to get into everything. Babyproofing your home in advance will give you peace-of-mind before your bundle of joy arrives.
Timing is Everything
Start planning a few months before your prospective due date. This gives you time to evaluate your needs, then purchase and install your materials. This also gives you a bit of leeway if your baby comes earlier than expected. Plus, you just won’t have the time or energy to do all this after your baby is born.
Overall Safety Items
First and foremost, there are some items that should be kept installed and in good working order for home safety whether you have a baby or not. These include a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. You should also maintain a fully stocked first aid kit and keep a list of emergency contacts handy and in a place where everyone knows where to find them.
Painting/Repairs
If you live in a home built prior to 1950, you’ll want to ensure it’s free of lead paint. Homes built before the 1970s may also need asbestos removed. Both substances are toxic to humans, but they’re especially dangerous for infants. You should also make sure that all your plumbing and electrical wiring are up to current code.
Furniture
If you have any furniture that is damaged or broken, it should be repaired while babyproofing your home. Furniture can also have sharp corners and other hazardous aspects. If you don’t want to replace the furnishings, then you can buy furniture bumpers to soften the edges.
Miscellaneous Items
There are other areas you may find while babyproofing your house. For instance, staircases are a falling hazard, so stair gates should be used at the top and bottom. Keep all medications, chemicals and cleaning supplies out of reach or even better, locked up. A play pen will allow you to keep your baby safely contained if you have to leave the room.
Babyproofing Room by Room
Get down on your hands and knees to see each room from your baby's perspective. It will allow you to see hazards more clearly, so you know what needs to be fixed or changed. Do this room by room in any area of the house your baby might roam. In some instances, you may want to use a safety gate to keep your baby out of rooms where he or she shouldn’t be, such as the laundry room.
The Living/Family Room
The living room is where your family will spend a large amount of time, so it needs to be fully secured. This should include removing any strangulation hazards, such as cords on blinds and curtains. Here’s some other essential living room babyproofs:
Install table guards over sharp corners on tables
Use a fireplace screen to prevent burns
Install outlet safety plugs and cord covers
Install cordless blinds, or secure the cord where it doesn't pose a hazard
Use a TV mount so the set cannot be tipped over
Secure any tippable furniture to the wall with fasteners
The Kitchen
In the kitchen your biggest goal will be keeping baby away from hot surfaces and sharp objects. Appliance and cabinet doors should be secured with a safety lock. Some kitchen safety tips are simple common sense:
Use knob covers for ovens and stovetops
Keep glass and sharp objects in upper cabinets
Make sure the trash can lid is secure
The Nursery
Your baby's room is one you should pay extra attention to while babyproofing your home. It should be the safest room in the house. Ensure no small toys are kept in the room to avoid choking hazards.
Note: As a rule, if it fits through a toilet paper roll, then it is small enough to be a choking hazard. Other ways to make this room safer include:
Install thick, cushy carpeting
Keep toys in boxes without lids
Use cordless blinds for window coverings
Keep dressers and other furniture secured to the wall
Use a baby monitor so you can keep an ear and eye on baby at all times
The Bathroom
Your bathroom contains several features that may be dangerous to a baby or toddler. To keep this room safe:
Keep all cleaning supplies and personal care items out of baby's reach by putting them in high cabinets
Set your hot water tank at no higher than 49 degrees to prevent scalding
Install a toilet lock: any standing water can be drowning hazard for babies
The Laundry Room
Your laundry room probably contains cleaning supplies and other chemicals which can be harmful to a baby. Laundry room safety fixes include:
Keep detergents and cleaning agents out of reach
Secure clothes racks, ironing boards, and other items so they don't tip
Install cabinet locks or child safety latches to house dangerous chemicals and cleaning supplies
The Home Office
While baby may not be in your home office frequently, you should still take the time to make it safe for little ones. This can be done by:
Keeping cords out of the way and using cord covers
Installing outlet safety plugs
Use fasteners to secure cabinets and bookcases to the wall
Using table bumpers on desk corners and end tables
Babyproofing your home is a fairly big job, but it’s also essential. Start with the nursery, then take it one room at time. If the clock is ticking to baby’s arrival, getting a jump on things will help put your mind at ease.
