When it comes to bringing your baby home, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when baby-proofing the house. You will need to think about each room in the house and how the different items in each room could be hazardous to your baby. Use this list as a guide to preparing your home for your new bundle of joy.
Stairs:
- Gates – install gates at the top and bottom of the stairs (steer clear of the old accordion gates as your baby could get caught in these)
- Plexiglas – consider installing Plexiglas along the bars of the stairs as baby could squeeze through these
- Loose fittings – make sure that carpets or other fittings in your home are not loose, as you could trip whilst carrying baby
Kitchen:
- Stove – use covers for stoves knobs and plates, and if possible try not to use the front stove plates
- Pots – all pot handles should be turned inwards
- Plastic bags – ensure that all plastic bags are out of reach of your little one
- Cleaning – all cleaning products should be kept in a high cupboard and the cupboard should be locked, if possible try to avoid putting cleaning products in the cupboard under the sink
Living Room:
- Plants – make sure that your plants are not poisonous, and put them out of reach so that your baby is not tempted to eat the soil
- Furniture and fittings – check that all furniture and fittings are stable, and make sure that loose objects are out of reach so that your baby cannot pull them down
- Fireplace – make use of a fireguard
Laundry Room:
- Toxic materials – use locks on cupboards that contain toxic materials, and use Child Safety caps on bottles
- Iron – never leave the iron on the ironing board in case your baby pulls the chord and it falls on top of them
Bathroom:
- Bath – get a bath mat to prevent baby from slipping. Also remove soap, razors, or any other potentially hazardous items from the edge of the bath. Remember to never leave water in the bath in case baby is mobile and manages to get in (she could slip or drown)
- Toilets – get locks for the toilet so that your baby can’t lift the seat
- Heaters – do not place portable heaters near your baby’s crib
- Shelves – do not place the crib under a shelf
- Crib and mattress – make sure the slats of the crib are not too far apart (you should not be able to fit your fist in between them), and that the mattress fits snugly (so that you are not able to fit two fingers between the crib and the mattress)
- Pillows – never put pillows or stuffed toys in the crib
General:
- Outlets – put plugs into unused power sockets
- Drawers and cupboards – Use locks on all draws and cupboards
- Fire hazards – purchase a fire extinguisher and install smoke detectors
- Windows with blinds – make sure the chords from the blinds are not reachable, as this is a strangling hazard
- Sharp corners – cover all sharp corners (counters, walls, and tables) with rubber corner safety covers
Do you have any easy or interesting baby-proofing tips?
