How To Baby-Proof Your Home

When your baby starts crawling, you feel so exalted as if you have achieved something on your own. However, for a small baby, even something as simple as a spoon can pose a threat, not to talk about the other dangerous, objects lying around your home. The best way to have the baby crawling without your acting like police is to have your home baby-proofed. Baby proofing is essential for your baby’s safety and keeps your sanity intact as well. Babies are curious and anything dangerous or non-dangerous evokes their excitement. So, it is very important for you to evaluate the potential hazards well in advance and be safe, rather than sorry. Read on to get the tips on how to baby-proof your home and let your child’s curiosity soar without danger.

Tips For Baby Proofing Your House

Take a good look at your home, preferably from a baby’s eye level. Anything pokey or sharp should be removed and kept beyond the reach of the baby.
Secure all the cupboards within your child’s reach, with childproof locks. Put anything with sharp edges, like knives, way beyond his/her reach.
Cover the sharp edges of your sofa, dining table, beds, etc. with foam, quilt or blankets. Baby’s head is very soft and anything sharp can easily harm him. Also, secure the furniture that can topple over and harm the baby. Fasten the bookshelves and any other wobbly thing, to the wall.
Have a smoke detector installed and keep a first aid box handy. Put your pediatrician’s number on speed dial. Keep a bottle of ipecac in your cabinet, in case your child swallows something poisonous.
Keep all the precious mantle pieces and artworks beyond your baby’s reach. A small push from him/her may not only break the piece, but also harm him/her.
If you have other children, keep their toys separate and teach them to care for the little baby. Keep the baby’s toy segregated and germ free.
Keep the bathroom locked all the time. When you are giving your baby a bath, never leave him alone there, as a baby can drown even in very little water. Set your water heater to below 120 degrees F or even lesser than that.
Make sure that the crib you buy is safe, as the baby will spends most of his/her time there. The mattress should fit snugly, without leaving any space and there shouldn’t be any elevated corners or designs from inside. In addition, the slats should be very narrow, so as to not get the baby’s hand or leg stuck in it.
Keep coins, scissors, nail clippers, batteries and anything that is small enough to fit in the baby’s mouth, far away from his/her reach. Keep your cosmetic products, like lipstick and lotions, out of his/her way.
Baby-proof all the electrical sockets and tie up any dangling cords. Install guards around fireplaces, radiators, heaters, and hot pipes. Cover the electric outlets with duct tapes or safety covers.
Install a safety latch for the kitchen cabinets too. Try keeping your child out of kitchen when you are cooking. However, make sure someone is there to take care of him/her when you are working in the kitchen.
Keep the houseplants out of your baby's reach, as he/she may put the soil or leaves in his mouth. Also, never in any case, keep axes, fertilizers or any gardening material inside the home. Keep the medicines, cleaners or alcohol well out of your baby’s reach.
Place the baby’s crib away from the window and remove its bumper pad. Make sure the crib is high enough, so that the baby doesn’t fall out of it.
If you live on the first floor, make sure the stairways are installed with safety gates, as a baby’s weight lies mostly in the upper part and he/she can easy topple over and fall.
Keep your baby's toys safe and don’t provide him with very small playthings. Keep all the electrical appliances well away from his crib.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Parenting & Family'