When you’re pregnant, you do all that you can to keep your baby happy and healthy when they are in your womb, but what happens when they are born? Do you have what it takes to keep your baby safe at home? Bringing a child into this world is a huge and daunting task. You need to pay close attention to everything in your home from the minute you come home from the hospital.
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There is a lot that goes into baby proofing a home, some experts even say that the process of baby proofing your home should start even before the baby is born to make life a little easier. Making your home baby safe is not as challenging as it might seem, just follow our simple baby-proofing tips. Remember, there’s no room in your home that you can ignore, right from the kitchen to the crib there are hazards everywhere.
The most part, however, will start when your baby starts to crawl (6-8 months), here is a checklist of what must be done to effectively baby proof your house –
Furniture
- Furniture should be tied down or bolted up, things like bookcases, dressers and anything that can be used to climb or hold onto (TV stand) should be strapped in place (anti-tip straps) and kept from toppling over.
- TVs should be wall mounted, don’t let them rest on tables or stands as they could be pulled down or might fall if the stand they are on is unsteady.
- Floor lamps and pot stands that have poor balance should be moved away from where the baby is or should be placed behind heavy furniture so that it doesn’t fall.
- Any furniture like coffee tables, night stands etc. that are at the same level as your child should be outfitted with corner or edge bumpers, you can even use safety padding. This should be used on all furniture with sharp edges.
- All cabinets and drawers should have child proof locks and straps. You can try latch locks, magnetic locks, adjustable safety locks, tension rods, and so on.
Bathroom Safety
- Keep the toilet lid down or get a child safety toilet lid lock. This will prevent your child from falling into the toilet. This is especially dangerous as it’s possible to drown in even an inch of water.
- Razors should be kept out of reach.
- Toilet cleaners, bleach and toilet brushes should be kept locked away and out of reach.
- Anti-slip mats are a must in the shower and tub.
- The temperature of the water must ALWAYS be checked when bathing your baby, the ideal temperature is 37 degrees C to 38 degrees C, test the water with your elbow.
- Medicines should be kept out of reach, preferably in a locked, childproof cabinet or box.
- Hair dryers, curlers, trimmers etc. should be put away after use and far from the reach of children.
- If your child likes to move around a lot during a bath, it is a good idea to put soft covers on your taps so that they don’t get hurt if they bump into it.
Kitchen Safety
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- While cooking, try to keep your child out of the kitchen as much as possible.
- Face all the handles of frying pans, skillets, etc. inwards and not outwards where they could be tempting to grab.
- The oven needs to be closed and a door guard needs to be fixed so that your child does not get accidentally burnt.
- Knives, scissors and other sharp objects need to be kept out of reach from children and in closed childproof drawers or cabinets.
- Cleaning materials, plastic bags, foil, etc. need to be kept on high shelves and away from your child’s reach.
- Flour, sugar and other grains should also be kept away. While grains could be a choking hazard, too much sugar is bad for kids and flour will messy and slippery.
- Breakables like crockery and other glassware should be kept out of reach. It’s important for your child’s safety as they could break it and get injured by the broken pieces.
Other Basics
- Make sure all the rugs and carpets are secured and have anti-skid rubber bases. This will keep them secure and prevent falls.
- The sockets on all plug points need to be sealed off.
- Wires and cords need to be neatly tucked away and away from the reach of your child.
- If you have stairs, use a baby gate at the top and bottom so that your child does not tumble while trying to climb up or down the stairs.
- Knob covers are needed for those knobs, door handles, etc. that are large or protrude and could cause injury. This can be done by making DIY knitted or sewn covers from soft fabrics.
- Keep doors closed as much as possible. When your child learns to crawl, they could get into trouble, find thigs on the floor etc the minute they wander into a new room.
- Vacuum regularly so that your child can’t find small particles that they might put in their mouths.
- All dangling cords need to be tucked away and kept out of reach. Be it window cords or appliance cords, anything that they can reach is an invitation to be grabbed, and that could lead to accidents.
- Use carpets or rugs in rooms where a baby spends the most time. This is especially helpful when they are learning to walk as it will cushion their fall.
- If your windows open easily, it might be a good idea to invest in some window guards.
- Get garbage bins with child proof locks. Babies will get into anything out of curiosity and if your garbage bins are not locked away, get child-proof ones.
- Know your plants. As babies like to out most everything in their mouth, the leaves of your favourite plant are also fair game. You need to ensure that none of the plants at home are toxic or could cause your baby to have a reaction.
- Crib safety: say NO to an excess of toys and pillows in the crib, as cute as they might be, it could easily suffocate your baby.
- Baby monitors: as nifty and useful as these gadgets might be, it’s important to choose wisely. Monitors with cords could be a hazard, and inferior quality ones might even catch fire!
- Room locks: certain rooms such as the bathroom, garage, and doors to the outside, need to be kept locked. A doorknob lock is the best way to do this. Now you can sleep at ease know that your child won’t be able to get through those doors.
Childproofing your home can be done on your own, with the help of this child-proof house checklist. Most of the child safety locks and other equipment can be found in online and offline stores. There are also very few baby proofing companies that have baby proofing services you can hire.
Your child’s safety at home is of the utmost importance, so if you feel that your home is in an unsanitary neighbourhood, is falling apart, or is generally unsafe, it’s time to move! NoBroker will help you find a house meant for families and perfect to raise a child in just click bellow to start searching.
