Baby proofing is an important task you’ll have to do as soon your child starts rolling over. Babies develop quickly and they’ll soon be walking, running, and exploring. Baby proof your house with these simple tricks to ensure your child (and your belongings) stay safe.
Use Gates
These are perfect for blocking off stairways, rooms, or keeping a child inside a particular room. There are lots of different sizes and varieties. Measure the spaces where you will install the gates to ensure you get the right size. Pick one that is appropriate for your space, sturdy, and heavy-duty.
Dishwashers
Adults see the dishwasher as a boring appliance, but to a young child it could be a wonderful and strange thing. Maybe even a toy. The sharp knives and other pointy items will pose a danger if your child decides to explore the dishwasher. To avoid injury, only load the dishwasher right before you are ready to start a load. Don’t leave it open and accessible as it gradually fills up. As soon as the cycle is over dry and put away the dishes. You can also install a temporary childproof lock on your dishwasher door.
Drawer and Cabinet Locks
Your child will love exploring all the nooks of your kitchen and pretending they are cooking just like mom and dad. Just like your dishwasher door, you can baby proof drawers and cabinets by installing locks. These kinds of locks are available on the internet or at a local department store.
The Stove
Kids just love those nifty stove knobs. If they turn on the stove without you knowing, they could cause burn injuries to any family member or even start a fire. Buy stove knob covers to block children from turning the knobs.
Outlets
Baby toys and fingers easily fit into the holes of an outlet, and of course your child can come to serious harm from doing this. Buy outlet covers to protect your baby from shock. They won’t be able to pull the covers out of the outlets and you won’t have to worry about electrified fingers anymore.
Dangling Cords
Don’t let any cords dangle off the end of countertops or tables. If your child is able to, they will grab it. Your child can be injured when the item attached to the cord falls on them. Always check to make sure cords are pushed back or out of reach.
Fireplaces
Who doesn’t love sitting next to the fire? Your child will love curling up by the fire to read a book with you. Just remember to keep a gate in front of the fire to block your child from it. Another option is to just wait until the child is a little older and knows more about the world for cozy fires.
Small Objects
Small objects are choking hazards and should be kept out of reach. It only takes a second for a child to grab something they’re not supposed to and put it in their mouth. Stay one step ahead of your child and keep away small objects until the baby has grown older.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is potentially the most hazardous room for young mobile children. Never leave a younger child alone in the bathroom. A baby can drown in as little as an inch of water or swallow a bright looking pill that’s fallen down from the medicine cabinet. Keep all medicines secure and out of reach and consider installing a lock on the toilet lid.
Batteries
Keep batteries away from children. They can burn or poison your child if they decide to put one in their mouth.
A Baby Proof House — It’s in the Details
Children are curious, full of energy, and don’t yet know how to keep themselves safe, so it’s very important to baby proof your house. The difficult part lies not so much in the individual babyproofing tasks, but in making sure you have addressed all the issues that could present a problem. There are lots of potential hazards in a home. Use this article as a starter guide. Also, don’t forget to explain what’s dangerous to your child in easy-to-understand terms, even before they’re speaking. They’ll still pick up on the basic message easily and will understand if you keep reminding them.