Baby Proofing Your Home
At eight months, your baby will begin to crawl. They’ll be able to pull themselves up at nine months, meaning counters are no longer out of reach. Twelve to fifteen months? Your child is walking. Since a third of child injuries happen at home, it’s important that you begin baby proofing your house – your young one will be toddling around before you know it. We’re not baby safety experts, but we’ve borrowed some tips from BabyCenter to help protect your family:
Baby proofing your bathroom:
The first rule of providing a safe home for your little one is never leaving them unsupervised, especially in the bathroom. If you’re bathing your baby and need to leave the room for a brief moment, it’s still one moment too long – scoop your baby up and bring them with you. Bath safety also means testing the water on your wrist to make sure it is around 96 °F and only filling the water high enough so that it stops at your baby’s legs. Don’t keep anything plugged in near the sink or bathtub to avoid risk of electrocution and keep your toilet lid down to prevent drowning hazards.
Shopping list:
- Nonslip mats for floor next to bathtub
- Covers for bathtub knobs & faucets
- Hook-and-eye locks for door to bathroom as well as locks for cabinets containing medicines, razors, heat appliances, etc.
Baby proofing your kitchen:
The kitchen is another room chock-full of accidents waiting to happen. Proper storage is a huge step in injury prevention. Make sure all bags, plastic wrap, and other suffocation hazards are stored out of reach. Store knives and other sharp cooking utensils in high cabinets as well and move electric appliances like toaster ovens out of harm’s way.
It’s also vital to make sure your trash can is covered and dish washer shut to prevent curious hands from wandering. Lastly, never leave your food unattended, especially if it is still cooking, and always keep an eye on your child if they are in the kitchen with you.
Shopping list:
- Child safety locks to keep cleaning products and other harmful chemicals away – consider purchasing safer cleaning substitutes such as vinegar and nonchlorine bleach
- Latches for oven, refrigerator, and microwave doors
- Knobs for stove burners
Baby proofing your living room
The living room is a perfect spot to spend quality family time – make sure baby is included by making it a safe space! This means using outlet covers, hiding electrical cords, and installing safety gates to keep your toddler from wandering. If your living room has a fireplace, make sure it is covered with a grill.
Windows pose a large threat to exploring children. Make sure all windows have guards or safety netting and trim blind cords. Since the living room may be home to bookshelves or TV stands, double-check that all towering furniture is secured to the wall to prevent any falls onto your child.
Shopping list:
- Safety gates & window guards
- Fireplace grill
- Corner and edge guards
- Outlet covers
Baby proofing your nursery
This is where your youngin’ will be spending their nights, so it’s vital that it’s completely safe and sound. Children under 6 months are at risk for suffocating on bedding or toys, so steer clear of crib decorations (including on the headboard/footboard) until after this time period. It’s also important to find a tight fitting mattress as well as sheets. Steer clear of drop-side cribs – they were banned in 2010 after a multitude of injuries.
Crib shopping list:
- Corner posts no taller than 1/16 inch and no smaller than 16 inches for a canopy
- Slats less than 2 3/8 inches apart – this will help from entrapping your baby’s limbs
- Make sure the crib is splinter-free and free of peeling paint
We hope you find this guide useful in welcoming baby home. Make sure to practice these safe steps in honor of Baby Safety Month. Have any questions on how to keep your child safe? We’re always here to chat.
