You were so excited for your baby to get mobile. Do you remember that? Cheering your little one on as he or she scooted across the floor! Shouting with excitement the first time he rolled over! Being filled with pride when she crawled eagerly to meet you!
Well, congratulations! Your baby is mobile, and now you’ve got to baby-proof!
That’s right, a mobile baby is an inquisitive baby. And an inquisitive baby is one basically asking to get hurt. But what does baby proofing really entail?
Well, let’s break it down by room:
Bathroom
- Toilet locks
- Non-slip mat in the bathtub
- Soft cover for the bath spout
- Keep lotions, shampoos and razors out of reach
Bedrooms
- Hooks to keep blind chords out of reach
- Anchoring furniture to the walls to prevent them being pulled over
- Doorstops to keep little fingers from getting squashed
- Keep baby’s crib or bed away from the window
Kitchen
- When cooking, use rear hobs and turn handles to the back of the stove so that baby can’t reach up and grab them
- Keep a fire extinguisher under the sink
- Child locks for oven door, cupboards and drawers
- Ensure cables on kettle and appliances can’t be grabbed and pulled off the counters
In General
- Socket covers
- All medication kept high and out of reach
- Baby gates, especially around stairs and large appliances
- Window locks
- Corner and edge guards for the furniture
- Sharp objects (like scissors, knives, pens, needles, letter openers, or paperclips) out or reach
- Cover and conceal electrical cords
- Anchor televisions and other large pieces of equipment
- Put stickers on sliding glass doors
Outside
- Pool gate
- Restrict the use of pesticides and rat poison
Obviously, every home is different and your baby proofing needs may vary depending on where you live and what hazards you have to contend with. Try to survey your home with an eye focused on potential dangers. For instance, do you have the matches for your fireplace located right next to the fireplace? Or is there a tall and fragile lamp in the living room that could easily be knocked over? What about glass-top tables, or toys that have small parts that could become choke hazards?
Baby proofing is not an exact science, and you may miss dangers that only become clear when your little one becomes even more mobile. Try not to be hard on yourself. Instead, use these experiences to learn from as you continue working to keep your home safe for your little one.
Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
