Your child’s safety can be increased by baby-proofing your home. Be sure to baby-proof all high-risk spaces such as the kitchen, living room, and bedroom.
The arrival of a baby may change how you think of many things in your home.
Things like outlets and bookcases that you previously didn’t give much mind to may now appear menacing and pose a threat. Most babies begin to crawl at eight months, while some begin earlier. A baby who is now crawling will start to pull up as well, making furniture such as chairs and tables easier to reach.
Your baby’s ability to crawl is an important developmental milestone. They are starting to learn how to explore their surroundings, and before long they will be climbing all over the house! You’ll need to check your home for any threats to keep them safe. When crawling begins, here are a few things you can do to child-proof your house.
Factors to consider when baby-proofing your house
Before you begin childproofing your house, there are certain factors you should take into consideration. Some of these factors include:
Rental homes and apartments
Babyproofing is crucial for maintaining your infant’s safety and health. However, what if you live in a rental home? Even if you are prepared and ready, if you live in a rental property, you can face some challenges regarding babyproofing. Here are some crucial factors to bear in mind while baby-proofing a rental property.
- Stairs and doorways
Top of any baby-proofing checklist is blocking off risky stairways and doorways, but installing gates might be difficult if you aren’t allowed to make holes in the walls. You can consider the pressure-mounted gates although it’s not the best at the top of the stairs because they are susceptible to baby’s push. You can also have a chat with your landlord to ask permission to screw in a firm gate to avoid accidents.
- Windows
Windows can pose a greater threat on the upper floor but it’s also risky anywhere. If windows in your rental home do not have safety locks you can buy them. Do not place furniture near the window, especially the baby’s crib. If your house already has blinds and shades with cords, tie them securely out of the baby’s reach. Keep the furniture away to prevent your baby from climbing and accessing it
- Cabinet and drawers
The first step is to rearrange your cabinets so that items, such as cleaning supplies and toiletries, are kept up high. Installing cabinet-door locking systems is another smart move. Some locks will require to be screwed into the cabinet but others don’t. So, consider talking to the management about the locks before buying them.
Permanent or temporary baby-proofing
Before putting any baby-proofing material, think about how you want your house to look when the child is all grown. How soon do you want to have another baby? Do you want your walls drilled? How about the window treatments? All these things are important to consider before making any baby-proofing decision
If you don’t want permanent baby-proofing in your house, there are a variety of temporary baby-proofing options. For example, you can use pressure-mounted gates to secure stairways and doorways. These gates do not require wall drilling but they are not as safe as the drilled ones. For the windows, you can replace the window treatments such as blinds and sheers with cords with cordless ones. Once your baby is grown you can put back your favorite window treatment.
Other furniture with sharp corners such as tables will require temporary safety guards.
Baby proofing checklist
You can use this checklist to help you make your house a safe place for your infant or toddler. It may seem a little challenging, especially if your baby has yet to arrive, but don’t freak out.
When you bring your newborn home, your home does not need to be completely baby-proofed. Some decisions, like installing baby gates at the stairs and locks in the cabinets may make sense once your child is mobile.
Take a look at your house from a baby’s perspective before you begin babyproofing. Get on your hands and knees and survey the situation from the ground up. This will make it easier for you to identify which cabinets and drawers your child might open, as well as which items they might take off surfaces or run into when they turn a corner.
Decide which baby-proofing items, such as edge protector materials, latches, locks, furniture straps, and safety gates, you’ll need after that. If you want some qualified assistance, think about hiring a childproofing consultant.
Baby-proofing your house for crawling baby
Baby Proofing is a continuous process, so as your child develops, picks up new skills, and outwits your attempts, you’ll need to adjust your strategy. One of your safety precautions may turn out to be dangerous later on. For example, the gate you installed at the top of the stairs to keep your 9-month-old safe can end up being their favorite thing to climb when they are 2 years old
Baby proofing kitchen
Sharp tools, cleaning supplies, and intense heat from the stove and oven are some of the dangers in the kitchen.
- Knob caps. Stove knob safety covers can prevent your toddler from turning them on. Also, install a door lock on your oven to prevent accidental opening. Cooking on the back burners will prevent your child from getting to the pot handles. Additionally, make sure to secure the fridge with a latch and hide any magnets so they are out of the way and out of reach.
- Knives and other objects with cutting edges should be stored in a block that is kept up high or in a drawer with a safety latch to keep children away from them. Never leave a knife on a table or counter in the kitchen. Food blenders and other equipment with sharp edges should be kept out of your child’s reach and locked away.
- Disconnect electronics and hide cords. Unplug kitchen appliances when you are not using them to prevent access by infants. Also, check that no appliances on the windows have any dangling cords.
- Keep matches hidden from view. Never expose children to the sight or access of matches. Store them in a lockable, high cabinet.
Baby-proofing living room
A few potential danger locations in the living room include the fireplace, sharp furniture edges, and light wiring.
- Window and electrical cords. Lamps and computer cords should be tied up and out of reach of your child. If window treatments have cords, shorten them, put plastic covers to the ends, and tie them down to the wall with a device. Alternatively, buy new window treatments with child-safe wands instead of cords.
- The edges of a coffee table. To avoid scrapes and bruises, add padding to the sharp edges of the coffee and end tables, as well as the hearth of the fireplace.
- House plants. They are lovely and bring life into your home. But, some houseplants are poisonous to young ones and can result in rashes, swelling, and nausea if consumed. Move your plants up high and safely away from the ground to protect them and your child.
- Unstable furniture that is weighty. When infants begin to crawl, they will also begin pulling themselves up and standing using furniture and other items. Unsecured furniture or house decor poses a risk to babies who like to explore. Your kid could get wounded if it wobbles, slides over the floor easily, tips easily, or has heavy objects resting on top of it. Ensure that anything that could fall over if your infant tries to stand on it is secured.
Baby proofing bedroom
When it comes to your baby’s bedroom design, cordless window treatments, safe, stable furniture, and smart toy storage are all excellent choices.
- Crib. Avoid using a bumper, cover, pillows, or toys in your baby’s crib. The safest crib of all is one that is empty. Slide the mattress to the lowest setting as soon as your infant begins to stand up on their own
- Window coverings. To reduce the chance of accidental entanglement or strangling, choose cordless window coverings. If you can’t replace your corded blinds, shorten or clip them so they hang out of the way. Always ensure that the crib for your child is placed far from the windows.
When your child starts to crawl, baby-proofing is very important to protect their health and safety. If you want to protect your child from injury, consider installing safety gates, corner guards, latches, locks, and furniture anchors. You can ensure that all of your baby’s exploration will take place in a secure setting by taking the time to childproof your home before crawling starts. Baby-proofing the house entails being alert and nearby, of course, but it also provides you the chance to show your child which objects are restricted. Use the chance to firmly tell them no when they reach for a potentially harmful item. Instead, tell them to play with the toy that I’ve provided.