Having a little one or two running around your home brings
along a whole new level of love and appreciation. You can’t wait to see
your kids grow up, experience the world and go on as many adventures as
possible. But while they’re still young, you’ll need to keep them safe
in your home by making sure your space is baby-proofed.
What does it mean to baby-proof your home?
For many new and inexperienced parents, the concept of baby-proofing
your home is very new and unheard of. To baby-proof your home means to
make your space as safe as possible for your infants or young children
by removing or minimizing any potential hazards. The type of hazards
your children can encounter might seem endless, however taking the time
to baby-proof your home will set your mind at ease, knowing that your
children will be exploring their new home safely.
What are some of the baby-proofing products you’ll need to purchase?
Before you even think about moving into your new home, you’ll need to
stock up on some tools to ensure that your baby-proofing mission goes
well. Some essential items to buy include:
● Cupboard locks
● Door or stair baby gates
● Power outlet covers
● Baby monitors
● Window screens or window stoppers
● Corner guards to cover sharp edges
● Bed rails
● Smoke alarms
● Toilet lid locks
● Tap covers
Now that you’ve assembled your tools, you are ready to move into your new home.
When moving into a new home, there are a few things to keep in mind
before, during and after the big move. You’ll want to be prepared for
anything while moving into your new home. Some tips to remember before
and during the day of your move are:
1.Get prepared before you move
Moving into a new home, especially with younger kids, takes a lot of
organizing, energy and time. Especially when a new home needs to be
baby-proofed. And so, starting as early as possible is key in
successfully moving with younger kids.
If you already have your baby-proofing tools on hand, such as baby
gates, cabinet locks and outlet protectors, make sure to pack them in
clearly labeled boxes and have them moved with the rest of your
belongings. Either you can pack the baby-proofing boxes in your car or
load them last in the moving trucks so that it’s the first thing being
unloaded. It’s easier to baby proof a home before all of your belongings
are there, as they might get in the way.
2.If possible, arrange for your kids to be looked after on moving day
Moving day can quickly become chaotic, to say the least. Between the
army of men unloading boxes from the moving trucks and you trying to
keep everything as organized as possible, it’s easy to become lost in
the process and overlook the fact that your kids need to be supervised.
And throw in the task of baby-proofing the home amidst the chaos?
Welcome to Mission Impossible.
To make things easier, have the kids spend the day with a trusted
friend or family member. That way, you know your kids are being looked
after, while you have the time to prepare your new home. With your kids
being out of the way, take the time to explain to the movers where all
of the boxes and furniture need to be placed. While they are busy
unloading, you have the time to go about the house and start some
necessary baby-proofing activities. As they say, teamwork makes the
dream work.
3.Create a separate unpacking space
Kids see many things as toys to play with. Bubble wrap and empty
boxes especially. But between the millions of empty boxes are dangerous
things such as plastic wrap, staples, box cutters and scissors. A
definite no-no for any child. To keep the peace in the house, create a
designated unpacking space.
If you have an empty room in the house, such as the spare bedroom or
the garage, make that space your designated unpacking area. Choose a
room that has a lock on the door to keep little hands away from any
dangerous tools. You can use this space to tear boxes open and unpack
all that needs unpacking while being reassured that the kids won’t get
ahold of any sharp objects. If you don’t have an open space and need to
unpack around your kids, make sure to keep your unpacking tools in
locked cabinets or high shelves when taking a break from unpacking.
4.Gate it off
Baby gates are your new best friend. They keep your children safe
from any unwanted dangers while still allowing you to keep an eye on
them. A very good investment in our eyes. While moving into your new
home, make use of the baby gates to secure various arrears that are a
no-go for the kiddies.
If you have a two-story home, gate off the stairs to keep your
children safe on the ground floor where you can keep an eye on them. If
you still need to baby proof the ground floor, such as covering any open
outlets, gate your kids off in the living room. Put on their favourite
movie or give them some empty boxes to build a fort with while you get
busy on making your home safe. Baby gates are fantastic in keeping your
kids in one location while you get to baby-proofing.
Now that you’ve officially moved into your new home, you now have the time to baby-proof every single space as much as possible.
You’ve settled in enough to know what you’ll be working with and what
is still needed in order to create a safe space for the little ones.
Some ideas include:
Cover outlets and ensure electrical safety
Covering power outlets is probably one of the most important
baby-proofing activities when moving into a new home. It may seem like a
tedious task, however going through each individual room and covering
up every open power outlet will ensure that your children can move about
their new home safely.
Go through each room and check which power outlets are reachable by
your children. Now, cover every single one of them. If you don’t have
enough covers, keep some rooms off limits until you get the job done. As
a mom, you will breathe easy knowing your kids won’t stick their
fingers in holes where they don’t belong.
Check windows and sliding doors
An important thing that many parents forget to baby proof are some of
the windows and sliding doors in a new home. Not all windows and doors
need to be locked 24/7, but it’s important to walk through the house and
baby proof all of the hazardous windows and sliding doors.
If you live in a second story home, all of the windows and doors on
the top floor need to be baby proofed immediately. Install a child proof
lock on all of the sliding doors to ensure your children don’t go onto
the balconies. If you have any windows, try installing some window
screens or window stops. That way, you can leave your windows open for
some fresh air while ensuring the kids don’t squeeze through any open
windows. Window stops are great to install on the first floor as well,
as this will allow you to keep your windows open, but small enough so
that children can’t fit through.
Don’t keep boxes stacked
Any mom knows that children love to explore. Especially when they
start to walk. To prevent any unnecessary falls, never leave any boxes
stacked while moving into your new home. Let’s be honest, to a little
kid a tower of boxes is just asking to be climbed. Remove any climbing
temptations by spreading your moving boxes across the floo, or even
consider leaving any unpacked boxes in a locked room. This way, both of
your belongings and your beloved children are out of harm's way.
Be on the lookout for any loose cords or strings
This small detail is something that can be overlooked sometimes,
however is very important to keep in mind when creating a safe
environment for the little ones. Any loose cords or strings can pose a
great threat and needs to be handled immediately.
Take a walk through your new home and look for any hazardous cords,
such as extension cords or cords hanging from your newly installed
blinds. If you have blinds, take the time to tie the cords at a length
where your children won’t be able to reach them. This eliminates the
idea of your children getting stuck between the ropes or choking on them
if they ever go around their bodies. If you have any electrical cords
or extension cords, take the time to tape them down to the floor or
walls, or remove them entirely. If you have any appliance that you don’t
use regularly, consider storing the appliance to eliminate the danger
of children pulling on the cords.
Always keep a fully stocked first aid kid
No matter how hard we try to protect the kiddies, accidents are bound
to happen. Whether it’s a burnt finger or a scraped knee, it’s
important to always have a fully stocked first aid kit on hand. Make
sure to include various supplies such as plasters, bandages, safety
pins, burn ointment etc. to counteract any accidents that may occur.
Keep the first aid kit on a high shelf or in a locked cupboard.
Now that we’ve covered some basic child-proofing tips, lets
chat about each and every common area in your home and how you can make
each space safe for the little ones:
1.The nursery or bedroom
The nursery or bedroom is arguably the room where your little one
will spend the majority of their time. From playing to sleeping, it’s
important to make sure your child’s own space is safe for them to avoid
any unnecessary accidents. Some important things to add to the room are:
● A thick carpet next to your child's crib or bed to ensure they don’t get hurt when they have an accidental fall
● Install window stoppers or locks for those curious little ones
● Ensure all outlets are covered or closed off
● Install a railing around your child’s bed or crib
● Install a baby monitor to keep an eye on them while they are alone and sleeping
2.The living room
Your living room is a place for relaxation and where the family can
get together to spend some quality time together. However, every mom
knows that babies and small children are prone to accidents, even in
this seemingly harmless room. Some things you can do to ensure your
little one’s safety include:
● Covering all exposed power outlet
● Placing corner guards on sharp edged, such as your coffee table or entertainment unit
● Keep all remotes out of your child’s reach to ensure they don’t get ahold of any batteries
● Secure any large objects, such as a bookcase of your television,
securely to the wall to prevent anything from tipping over.
● Make sure to pick up any small, choke-able items off of the floor or coffee table before your child enters the room
3.The bathroom
The only time your toddler or baby should ever be in the bathroom is
when they need to bathe or when they are being potty trained. However,
in both cases your baby or toddler should never be alone and try to keep
it that way. A bathroom can be a very hazardous space for any small
child, so make sure to keep the area restricted until your children are a
bit older. Some things to consider when your child is in the bathroom
include:
● Keeping all cleaning products or medical supplies out of reach or in locked cabinets
● Adding a slip-resistant mat to the bathtub or bathroom floor
● Never leaving your child unattended when they are in the bath
4.Tackling the kitchen
The kitchen is probably one of the rooms with the most potential
hazards in your entire house. Electrical appliances, fire hazards,
choking hazards, the list just goes on. So, when moving into your new
home, it’s important to set out time, especially to get the kitchen as
safe as possible. Some tips to keep in mind include:
● If you have any cabinets or drawers your toddler or baby can
reach easily, install a child lock to prevent them from getting ahold of
any sharp objects or dangerous cleaning chemicals.
● If you have any kitchen appliances with electrical cords, store
them in higher places if they’re not being used, or push them towards
the wall, as far away as possible from the counter’s edge.
● Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and know when to use it.
● If you use a feeding chair in the kitchen, make sure to place it
in an area where it won’t tip over and always make sure to strap your
kids in to prevent them from falling.
● Cover any low open power sources (we can’t stress this enough!)
5.Walk around your house and make some changes in the garden
Every child, young or old, loves to spend some time in the garden and
get some well-deserved playtime and vitamin D. However, having younger
kids or babies means that you’ll need to baby-proof the garden as well.
If you have a pool, you’ll need to either cover the pool or build a
fence around it. If you have a fence, make sure the pool is locked at
all times and that it can only be opened by you or your partner. Ensure
that all gardening tools and supplies are locked away in a safe space,
either outside or inside your home. These small things will ensure that
you can breathe easy while your kids enjoy some fun in the sun.
If you ever feel like you can’t baby-proof your house alone, consider hiring a professional!
That’s right, hire a professional. You can hire a professional
consultant to come and inspect your home and they will advise you on
what needs to be done and the different ways you can assure your home is
completely babyproof. They will provide an in-depth safety checklist
and can help you to source all of the items you’ll need to make your
home as safe as possible.
Babyproofing, especially for first time parents, might seem like an
endless mission with millions of things to do and get right. But, with
careful consideration and planning, you will get the job done way faster
than you thought possible. Also, don’t be afraid to enlist the help of
some friends or family members. Babyproofing a home takes team efforts,
but will be all worth it in the end.
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