Babyproofing Your Home
Babyproofing your home is hardly a one-time event. As your child grows, so
do potential hazards they’ll face and opportunities for your child to dirty and
destroy your home that you just spent what felt like hours making spotless.
Because let’s face it – although small, children have the unique ability to get
into everything and create disorder. Protecting your child as well as your
home means preventing accidents and staying ahead of their little curiosities.
It doesn’t matter what style of home you live in, perhaps you live in a single—
story condo in Miami, FL or a three-story home in Atlanta, GA, babyproofing
your space is vital to your child’s safety while keeping your home clean and
protected from damage. What will your child be able to get into once they start
crawling, walking, or even climbing? It’s hard to tell, but taking the necessary
steps to keep your home clean, and baby-proofing to minimize any potential
damage they could cause to themselves or your home can give you peace of
mind.
Babyproofing Your Home at Every Stage
Your baby may not begin crawling for many months, but babyproofing your
home and setting up a stylish yet safe nursery beforehand is a smart way to
create a safe environment for your child while reducing the chances of
damage to your home in the near future. Consider taking the following safety
measures while babyproofing your home:
Optimizing your home for an infant
Keep baby monitors and cords three feet away from the crib.
Keep the crib free of pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals.
Make sure changing and bath areas are secure to prevent slips, rolls,
and tumbles.
As your babyproofing, secure all cords, including those on blinds and
window coverings. Remember, any cord can be a hazard. Consider
installing safety tassels or cord stops to tuck away the cords.
Place the crib away from any windows, heaters, lamps, wall
decorations, and cords.
Preparing your home for a crawling baby
Cover electrical outlets with electrical plugs and remove nightlights, air
fresheners, and other plugins that are easy to pull out.
Secure or hide electrical cords. They’ll be sure to pull down anything
they’re attached to making a lamp, stereo, or TV come crashing down
on them and the floor.
Close the toilet lid or place a latch on top.
Add padding to tables with sharp corners or edges and Install finger—
pinch guards for hinges on doors.
When you’re babyproofing, install latches on doors, especially to stairs,
cabinets, and appliances.
Place cleaning products and other toxic chemicals in a safe, dry place
with a latch or lock.
Always keep the floor and low tables clear of small debris and other
choking hazards.
Empty bathtubs and buckets of water immediately after use.
Use baby gates to keep your child safe from stairs or rooms that haven’t
been childproofed.
Anchor your television and unstable furniture, such as bookcases,
dressers, and loose tables.
Protecting your home from a toddler while keeping them
safe
Keep all windows latched and add stoppers so they can’t be raised if
they are accidentally unlatched. Kids not only can easily make holes in
screens using their fingers and toys, but can also fall out of windows if
they lean on the screens.
Keep medicines in childproof containers in high cabinets that latch or
lock.
Keep hot foods and liquids in the center of tables or at the back of
counters.
Make sure the knobs on your stove and oven are securely covered or
removed so your toddler doesn’t turn them on and possibly cause a fire
Make sure doors lock from the outside so your toddler can’t accidentally
lock themself in a room.
Secure doors that provide access to off-limit areas, like garages or
workshops.
Guest Blog: Julia Weaver
https://www.redfin.com/blog/creating-a-baby-safe-home-interior/