Babies are wonderful and curious little things. If you are preparing your home for the arrival of a precious baby, it is time to spend some time baby proofing your living space. Read on for some helpful and practical baby proofing tips.
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VIEW YOUR HOME FROM A SMALLER SCALE
Get down on the floor and view your space from both a laying down and a crawling position. What do you see? Are there cords dangling within reach? Fragile and valuable items in view? Are there sharp furniture edges or chips in the tile? Babies literally experience the world in a way that is totally different from the adult viewpoint, so take a look at what they will be seeing and feeling.
COVER ALL ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Purchase some outlet covers and go around your home and plug all open electrical sockets. Buy extra outlet covers and carry them in your diaper bag for when you go to Grandma’s house, or a vacation home or hotel.
SAFEGUARD STAIRWAYS
If you have stairs in your home, you will want to install baby gates. Babies are naturally curious and sometimes use furniture and even stair gates for balance as they learn to walk and explore. Be sure to use sturdy stairway gates.
BLOCK ACCESS TO CABINETS
You may decide that some cabinets are fine for a baby to explore. Most likely though, there will also be cabinets that you will want to block access to. There are a wide variety of inexpensive safety latches that prevent the baby from getting into items that he or she shouldn’t.
CONSIDER THE TOYS OF OLDER CHILDREN
If you have older children, take the opportunity before the new baby arrives, to sort and store in labeled containers any small choking hazard type toys or toy pieces. Make sure your older children have their own space to play in that the baby won’t be able to reach. This way all toys can be kept separated.
HEAR BABY AT ALL TIMES
Invest in a quality baby monitor, and set it up and test it out to be sure it works properly. Babies do spend a lot of time sleeping, but you need to know that the baby is safe while sleeping. Baby monitors have various working distances. Choose one to fit your needs. Some allow you to be outside tending to animals, gardening, playing with your other children, while still being able to hear any noises coming from the baby’s sleeping area.
As you baby proof your home, use common sense, and view the activity as a positive one. While there are many aspects of caring for a new baby that can cause anxiety, preparation and love go along way in easing those fears.
