Q. What is the best way to approach baby-proofing our home?
The best way is to see your home from the eyes of your child. It is recommended that you get down on your hands and knees and crawl around your home. This will enable you to see hazards you might not have recognized at your full height. Are electrical outlets in baby's reach or are there electric cords hanging down that your baby can pull on or get tangled in? Does your furniture have sharp corners? Are there precious items at your baby's level that should be put up out of reach?
Q. What is the most hazardous situation for my baby?
Any situation that places your baby in harm's way is the worst situation for your baby. The most hazardous situation for your baby is choking or anything that might cause him to stop breathing. The most hazardous situation for you baby is one that caused an injury that could have been prevented.
Q. What are some things I need to consider when I am baby-proofing our home?
There are many things to consider. Your baby is a quick mover so it is never safe to leave him unattended if at all possible. Consider putting up all valuables and breakable items out of reach of your baby's. Anything that is small enough to fit in his mouth should be removed. If in doubt as to whether any one item is small enough to fit in your baby's mouth and pose a choking hazard take an empty toilet paper roll. If it fits inside the tube, it goes in his mouth and possibly harm him.
Q. Why do I need baby safety gates?
Baby safety gates can be placed in doorways or at the top and bottom of staircases. The gates can prevent your baby from getting into the kitchen or bathroom. They can also prevent your baby from tumbling down the stairs or climbing the stairs and falling. The mesh or the holes in the gate should not be large enough for your baby to put his toes through to climb the gate. Gates now are being made to operate hands-free or one handed. There are gates being made with the bars going vertical instead of horizontal reducing the chances of your baby being able to climb the gate.
Q. What are electric outlet covers or locks?
Electric outlet covers look like plastic plugs when they are inserted and prevent your baby from sticking his fingers or something else in the outlet and getting a serious shock. Electric outlet lock plates can replace typical outlets and in order to insert anything into the outlet the plug has to be inserted and turned.
Q. It was suggested to me that I have motion alarms on our doors and windows, why would I need them?
Some kids are very active and able to do things you would be very surprise about. Children have been known to open windows and fall through screens and become seriously injured. There are many news stories where toddlers have gotten up in the night and unbeknownst to their parents open the door and go outside. Some are found wandering around and others are not so lucky. Some windows now come with a mechanism to prevent the window from being opened more than an inch or two. The alarms will alert you to the door opening and you can intervene before something tragic happens.
Q. What kind of baby-proofing products are available?
There all kinds of baby products available and most are reasonably priced. There are motion sensors, corner cushions for sharp corners on furniture. There are electric outlet covers, cabinet and drawer locks of different types and cord retractors for window blinds.
Q. Is there anything available to protect my baby from getting in between banister posts?
There is netting available that can be attached with screws that will prevent your baby from getting between the banister posts. This product is similar to the deck netting available for outdoor decks.
Q. Are there baby proofing checklists available?
Yes, there are baby-proofing checklists available. You can locate them online and they are printable. Specialty stores, hospitals, and pediatricians are all possible sources for such checklists.
Q. How can I baby proof my nursery?
You can baby proof your nursery by keeping your baby's crib away from windows and blinds cords. Put outlet protectors on all outlets. Make certain to dress your baby in sleepers rather than using blankets. When your baby begins sitting up place the mattress in the lowest position. Do not put stuffed animals or pillows in the crib with your little one, they could nestle up to them and suffocate.
Q. How can I baby proof my kitchen?
Put all cleaners or chemicals up out of reach of your baby. Make sure all drawers and cabinet doors. While cooking put all pot handles toward the rear of the stove. Do not allow electric cords to hang over counters where your baby can pull on them. Better still, if possible unless you are feeding your baby keep him out of the kitchen.
Q. How can I baby proof my car?
You can baby proof your car by making sure the car seat your baby will ride in is installed correctly and that it is the correct one for your baby. Remove all loose items that could become missiles in a crash or quick stop, and place them in the trunk.
Once your child becomes mobile, you start a whole new phase in the life of your home. Gone are the days of glass vases on the floor and piles of items such as craft supplies or tools lying around waiting to be put away. The fastest way to organization in the home is to bring a crawling baby or toddler into the picture.
When your baby first comes home, you are typically worried about such things as what kind of diapers you are going to use, which bouncy seat will make them happiest and what kind of eating/sleeping pattern will work best for them. You don't really start to worry about baby proofing your home until you watch your child move from point A to point B unassisted.
The day that they crawl across the room or take their first step is the day you need to baby proof your home in every way, shape and form. It only takes walking into a room to find your child heading toward an open wall socket or picking up your favorite antique plate to send you into a panic to make instant changes in your home.
When you baby proof your home, you have to think about baby safety first and home safety second. By this I mean think about what can be harmful to your baby first and what your baby can harm second.
The obvious baby safety features you need to start with are wall socket covers, cupboard latches and baby gates. EVERY socket in your home needs to be covered with a safety plug. Even if they are in the most remote part of the home, cover them. Every cupboard that contains anything harmful to your child or contains things that you don't want thrown all over the floor needs to have a safety latch. Keep one cupboard open and fill it with toys so that it can be your child's cupboard and they can open it whenever they want to. Place baby gates at the bottom and top of steps. Close doors to bathrooms so that they can't get into the tub or toilets.
Crawl around on the floor at your child's level and pick up anything that you don't want your child to have. This includes any breakables as you can't expect a curious child to not touch things and explore their surroundings. Anything smaller than a ? dollar should be out of their reach to avoid having them put it in their mouth and choking. Photo albums and photos should be out of reach as well or they can become stained, ripped or chewed on. If it doesn't have to be out then it is probably best to pack it away for now or at least put it up high out of their reach.
In addition to these suggestions, you can find other baby proofing suggestions and checklists online. Even after going through these checklists you have to realize that each home and each child is unique and you will probably make more changes as your child grows and discovers other things in the home. Keeping them safe is of utmost important. You can redecorate your home when they are older, but for now your job is to make their home a safe place to live.
Both Daljit Kaur & Tim Shank are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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