Babyproofing Your Home: What to Know to Keep Your Little Ones Safe

Your life changes in many ways once you bring a baby into your home. A responsible adult will take all the necessary precautions to make sure their own child can’t get hurt in their own house. The more you babyproof your home, the less likely they are to end up with a bump, scratch, or worse.

Store dangerous products wisely

Unless your baby is destined to be a great rock climber, they’re unlikely to reach anything that’s not near or around their height. However, any low cabinets, tables, or drawers they can get their hands on should be free of any hazardous materials or products. Either lock them up or place them somewhere high and safe where the item can’t fall off.

Things to keep out of reach:

• Anything sharp (including utensils)
• Chemicals
• Glass
• Medicines
• Spices
• Heavy objects
• Anything breakable (like dishes)

Choose your plants carefully

It’s no secret that babies love putting things into their mouths. While most houseplants (and even common outdoor plants) are safe and might only cause a tummy ache, some plants are toxic enough to be dangerous. Check out this Baby Center page to see a list of common plants that can be dangerous to your kids. As for safe plants in the home, check for small rocks they can choke on while avoiding any surface or crystallized fertilizers.

Invest in baby-proof products

Kids are curious. To them, your home is filled with all sorts of unfamiliar things and places to discover. Make sure they stay safe during their many adventures by buying outlet covers, furniture locks, and other products meant to keep them out of dangerous areas. Corner guards and furniture straps are also useful so they don’t hurt themselves on sharp, hard edges.

Buy a Babygate

Everything changes once your baby goes mobile. It’s cute seeing them crawl and walk at first, but eventually, you realize that they’re now more likely to get themselves into trouble. A baby gate is a must-have for keeping babies and toddlers away from the bathroom, stairs, kitchen, or any areas where they can get hurt.

Have a spot for your movable belongings

The days of entering your home after a long day of work and tossing your purse or toolbox anywhere are gone. Belongings used to carry things can be very dangerous to a kid that wanders into it. Now that you’re a parent you’ll have to choose a high spot always to place your purse or backpack, otherwise, they might get into your coins, cosmetics, pens, or other choking hazards.

Baby-proof your electronics

If there’s one thing kids are good at, it’s destroying your expensive electronic devices. Since your child will eventually enjoy TV and the many kids shows on it, you’ll want to make sure they can’t get hurt by it or damage it. Invest in a baby-proof TV guard so they’re unable to mess with the buttons. Anti-tip straps are also good if your television is placed low and your child can pull it onto themselves. Also, be careful with any electronics that use cords or cables since kids can trip or chew on them.

Keep them away from heights

One of the most common ways children get hurt in the average home is by falling downstairs. As we mentioned before, invest in a baby gate to make sure they can’t access your stairway. You should also watch out for any balconies or windows that a baby or toddler can reach or squeeze through— railing bars should never be less than 10 centimeters apart.

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Want to read more about how to keep your little ones happy? Here are some creative ideas on how to decorate their rooms in Disney style.