A Guide to Babyproof your House: Tips and Checklists

You will be surprised to find out how easy it is for a baby or child to get in trouble. Babies grow fast, and before you know it, your kid will begin to be curious about their surroundings by crawling, rolling and scooting around your house. Also, with time, they get very good at holding, grabbing and moving things around. That means they will be exposed to dangers, so you need to babyproof your house to ensure that nothing bad will happen to your treasure. 

Your tiny baby will soon become a cruiser and a crawler, ready to explore your whole house. Baby-proofing your entire house might seem daunting, but it is manageable if you take a look and tackle all the rooms in your home. 

Here are some tips that will help you in this process.

Why is it important to babyproof your house? 

Having a baby will always be a fun experience. However, when your little one starts to move around, you will be very likely to discover some safety issues you haven’t even thought of. For adults, it is easy to navigate in a house, even though risks are present. But for babies, there is not such a thing, as they won’t be able to recognize dangers, whether it is about unstable furniture or sharp objects. So, to babyproof your house, you need to identify risks and create a safe space for your kid. 

It is important to babyproof the house from the first moment your kid arrives in their new home. Each step in the life of your little ones, be it infancy, toddlerhood or childhood, brings adventures, but at the same time, it also has challenges. So, it is good to take good measures for each stage. Some think a house should be baby-proofed during pregnancy, while others consider this step should be done after the child is born. It is up to you when you want to start, but it is wise to begin early rather than putting it off. 

Baby-Proofing the Nursery

Several areas in nurseries require special attention to ensure your baby will grow happy and healthy. Here is everything you need to remember to ensure your baby has a safe nursery. 

• Crib. The crib is where your baby will spend a lot of time, often unattended, so it is imperative to make it safe. Ensure you keep your crib free from soft materials like pillows, stuffed animals, or blankets, as they can increase the chance of suffocation. Also, you must remove any type of decoration your little one might get caught in. The crib should meet safety standards and have a flat, firm, tight-fitting mattress. 
• Bed. If your kid climbs out of their crib, it might be time to move to a low bed. If you have more children and bunk beds in their bedrooms, don’t allow the smaller one to sleep on the top bunk bed.
• Changing table. Tables need to be sturdy, so your little one cannot drag them down and get hurt. Never leave your child unattended when they are on the changing table, even if you use the safety strap.
• Toybox. Opting for a basket made from a soft material is good to ensure it won’t hurt your baby. 

Baby-Proofing the Kitchen

Kitchens are among the most dangerous places for kids, as cooking spaces have risks everywhere, from hot pans and pots to toxic cleaning and sharp objects. Here are some smart ways to babyproof your kitchen.

• Store sharp objects. You will need to store appliances and sharp utensils, like scissors and knives, in a place out of reach for kids, like in a cupboard or drawer with a safety latch. 
• Use door latches. It is important to ensure your baby doesn’t have access to drawers or cabinets containing dangerous items, such as cleaning products or medication. Using child-proof cabinet locks or door latches is an easy way to keep them away from danger. 
• Replace your cabinets. When you have kids, the old furniture might no longer be suitable for your needs. So, if you have old cabinets at risk of falling, replacing them with new ones might be good. However, if you don’t have the budget to do a total makeover, you can just replace the cabinets’ door, which will help in this matter. Kitchen doors are a good alternative, as they are safe options that will also revamp the look of your cabinets. 
• Safeguard the stove. To make sure your little one stays away from danger and doesn’t turn the gas on, you can use some knob covers. Also, always turn the pot handles opposite from where your kid has access. 
• Unplug appliances. When appliances are not in use, unplugging them and placing all the cords out of your kid’s reach is a good idea. 

Baby-Proofing the Living Room

The coziest space in the house for family meetings also has some dangers, so keep these things in mind to ensure your baby is always safe.

• Cover sharp corners. It is good to put corner guards on the sharp edges to prevent painful scrapes and injuries. 
• Opt for cordless window coverings. Having blinds and curtains without cords is good so kids will not get tangled in them. 

Baby-Proofing the Bathroom

The bathroom must also be baby-proofed, even if it might not look like kids will meet many dangers there. 

• Install cabinet locks. Exactly like in your kitchen, you can also use the door locks to safeguard the cabinets in your bathroom. This will keep children away from cosmetics and cleaning products.
• Practice water safety. Make sure you never leave your child unattended in the bath, as drowning is a risk present there, even in a few inches of water. Also, you need to ensure the water temperature is suitable, so always test it before your kid gets in the tub.
• Close the toilet. The toilet lid should also be closed after use to make sure you keep your little toddler away from exploring it.

When you have a baby, it is imperative to babyproof your house. We hope the tips from above will help you in this process. 

Written by: Mary Hall