|
Baby proofing your home is a fun “getting ready for baby” project or one that you can do after your baby is born. Whenever you decide to start, just be sure you stay ahead of your baby’s development level.
 For example, if your baby is beginning to roll over, you may find him rolling all over the room. You need to be sure all your electrical cords are tied up or hidden so he doesn’t pull a lamp or something else down on top of himself.
Or if your baby is starting to push herself up on her hands and knees, you need to have the outlets covered because she’ll be crawling before you know it and investigating everything she sees.
So, try to see things as your child sees them.
When childproofing our home, one of the things I did quite frequently (and I’m glad we don’t have it on video!) was to get on the floor on my hands and knees and look at each room from my child’s perspective.
When you see things from your baby’s point of view, you can quickly spot what might be a danger area or a potential hazard that you might have otherwise missed.
There is a lot to consider when baby proofing and it may seem overwhelming, but it’s easy if you take things step by step. The following is a brief look at the steps needed to keep your baby’s environment safe. Much more detail is included in the links within each step.
Baby Proofing Steps- 1. Do Basic Home Safety
 When babyproofing take a look around your home and assess it for anything that could potentially harm your baby. Remember that what seems very uninteresting to you is most likely VERY interesting to your baby.
Things to check are:- Electrical outlets, cords and sockets
- Window treatments with cords
- Plastic bags
- Collectibles and breakables
- Sharp Edges and Corners
Click here for more information on these topics of basic child home safety
- 2. Secure your Fireplace
Fireplaces are fascinating for babies and children. There are so many potential dangers and yet it is very easy to make your fireplace safe and still enjoy it. To learn more about fireplace safety including padding, guards, screens, etc., click here.
- 3. Use Safety Gates
 In the world of childproofing, safety gates are a wonderful invention! Installed properly they can protect your baby from climbing up the stairs, falling down the stairs or getting into a room that is off-limits. Click here for more information on the different types of child safety gates. If your baby's height is above the 85 percentile, you may want to check out information on extra tall baby gates and other tall baby stuff by clicking here.
- 4. Use Door Locks
 Once your baby is really moving, doors are a potential problem. My grandson could open a door and be halfway down the walk before you could catch him. Door knob covers were a necessity for us! Having your baby’s fingers caught in a sliding door or pinched in a door hinge are frightening thoughts. These accidents are easily preventable with safety door locks and guards. Click here for some good ideas on making your doors safe.
- 5. Make your Windows Safe
Windows can be a potential hazard for your toddler and even your older children. Particularly if your baby’s room is on the second floor or if you live in an apartment building, you will want to be sure your windows are safe.
In addition cords hanging from a window treatment pose a serious strangulation hazard. Click here for more information on child window safety and how to make your window treatments safe.
- 6. Take a Special Look at Kitchens and Baths
There are so many things in a kitchen or bathroom that can potentially hurt your baby that these rooms need special attention.
Cabinet locks, drawer locks, and even toilet locks need to be used.
Click here for bathroom safety tips. Click here for kitchen safety tips.
- 7. Poisons
Most of us have a lot of everyday cleaners and chemicals in our home and they are a real danger to your baby. For tips on how to handle your common household chemicals and basic chemical safety, click here. Also, many common houseplants can be a potential hazard for your child. Click here for pictures of toxic house plants and their potential threat.  
There are so many things to think about when you are baby proofing your home. Believe me, I understand. But, again, these are all things that if taken one by one and step by step are very manageable. Pretty soon you will be in the habit of baby proofing your home; you’ll be able to spot a danger a mile away. Don’t worry…keeping your baby’s world safe will begin to become automatic.
**Baby proofing is extremely important, but remember,
nothing takes the place of adult supervision**
Return to Top
Related Articles
Basic Home SafetyBathroom Safety Cabinet Latches Chemical Poisoning Chemical Safety Kitchen Safety Poisonous House Plants Safety Door Locks Safety Gates Window Safety
Return from Essentials of Baby Proofing to The Baby Safety Site Homepage
|
