Baby Proofing Your Home
Author: Angela Heidt
Keeping your children safe is a major concern for new parents. Once your kids start moving around, you realize just how dangerous some things in your home are to them. Cords, plugs, heavy lamps, and pretty much anything not soft and squishy can cause potential harm, which is why baby proofing your home is so important.
Where should you start? Begin in the rooms where they spend the most time. Get down at their level and see what they see. Electrical cords are very appealing to young kids, so they should be tied back and hidden wherever possible. Open sockets should be covered, and anything up on a shelf that your child could get a hold of once he or she can stand should be moved.
Babies can be very clever, and it will only be a matter of time before they learn to push a stool or other object up against a table or shelf so they can reach it. Keep desks, countertops, and tables clear of items that could potentially harm your child. Likewise, ensure that any hanging cords from blinds or curtains are tied safely out of reach.
Any stair cases should be blocked off with a well-affixed baby gate. There are many varieties available, so find one that works for you. If you will be spending a lot of time going up and down the stairs, you may want to get the swinging variety so you don't have to step over each time. You may need one gate for the top and one for the bottom of the stairs if your child spends time on both levels.
The kitchen and bathroom will likely take a fair amount of time to baby proof. Keeping the bathroom door closed at all times is a good idea, but if you keep any cleaning items under the sink, you should lock the cabinet. Likewise, you should do the same in the kitchen to any cupboards or drawers that contain dangerous items. If you have a pantry, do the same. While they likely won't find trouble in the pantry, it is worth saving yourself the clean up to have it secured.
It is likely that your child will still find ways to get into trouble; kids are good at that, but with some careful planning, you can get the most dangerous places of your home secured. Baby and child proofing is an evolving exercise due to the fact that kids will always find new things to focus on. By keeping an eye on their habits and abilities, you can easily predict where they will go next and keep it off limits.
