Don’t Skip These Essential Babyproofing Measures at Home

Interior decorating doesn’t always include babyproofing strategies. If you’re bringing home an infant or inviting kids into your home soon, prepare your living space to ensure it’s safe for everyone. You could prevent injuries by making your house a better place for curious little minds.

1. Mount the Nursery Furniture

Infants won’t crawl into dangerous places when you first bring them home. If you’re a soon-to-be mom, you should spend some time securing furniture to your nursery walls. Bookshelves and changing tables could fall over and harm your baby. Mounting hardware is readily available at local home improvement stores. You’ll only need a few minutes to install the hooks and ensure that your furniture will stay upright.

2. Upgrade Your Door Handles

When kids start walking, they may also be tall enough to reach door handles. If you’re adopting a toddler or inviting little ones into your house, consider upgrading your door handles. Childproof handle accessories keep the knobs from turning. You can easily attach them over your existing handles to prevent kids from accessing various rooms and replace them whenever you feel they are no longer necessary. 

3. Hide Off-Limits Food and Drinks

Nieces and nephews may head straight for your refrigerator when they arrive at your house. Prepare those spaces by removing anything that they shouldn’t have. Hide foods with allergens, highly caffeinated beverages and any alcohol products. You can always consult with your family or friends to understand what their kids aren’t supposed to eat. They’ll clarify which foods or drinks aren’t suitable for their children, so there’s no miscommunication.

4. Move Any Stuffed Animals

When you’re pregnant or preparing to adopt an infant, you’ll likely get numerous stuffed animals to decorate your nursery. Although they’re adorable, they can pose a health risk. Infants could roll into them or suffocate if a stuffed animal falls on their face in their crib. Move any soft toys away from areas where your baby will rest or sit to prevent potential emergencies. 

5. Plug Electrical Outlets

Little kids love to touch electrical outlets. The covers resemble tiny faces and don’t seem dangerous. Children don’t know that if they put their finger or an object into the holes, they could get shocked. Plastic covers will solve this problem.

Consider putting outlet covers around your home. They should be in any rooms where little kids may spend time. This small step is essential if your child has recently started walking or if you’re having friends with young children over soon.

6. Cushion Sharp Furniture

Toddlers explore their surroundings, but they aren’t yet the best at walking. They often bump into furniture, which could cause injuries if your furniture has sharp edges. Find corner cushions for your coffee table, bedframe, side tables and any other furniture they might spend time around. Your home will automatically be safer for little kids to explore if they can’t hurt themselves on corners.

7. Store Sharp Objects

Everyday household items may harm your kids when mishandled. If you’re having young kids over for a party or trying to babyproof your house before your adoption finalizes, remember to move sharp objects that you might otherwise overlook.

Put your knife block out of reach in the kitchen and hide scissors. Move sewing supplies and knitting needles into areas the children can’t reach. Look around your house to consider what might be too sharp for kids to handle, and hide those objects if there’s a chance they could be dangerous.

8. Cover Loose Cords

Little kids who are learning to crawl will grab onto anything in reach. If they hold an electrical cord to pull forward, they could yank things on top of themselves or get tangled in it. Cover any loose cords attached to your floor lamps or electronics. Cable covers are helpful, but you can also push cords under furniture. See what makes the most sense wherever you have electrical cords most exposed in your house.

9. Add a Fireplace Gate

Fireplaces are hazardous for children, even if you don’t have an active fire. Kids can crawl into the tiny space and ingest harmful burnt substances. Putting a baby gate around your fireplace is always a good idea. You’ll keep little ones away from the ash or open flames, even if they crawl near the fireplace while you’re not looking.

10. Get Cabinet Locks

Hiding chemical cleaning products in a cabinet may seem like an easy way to babyproof your home. If your kids are old enough to understand how to open the cabinet door, they can still access the liquid solutions that are dangerous to ingest. Add cabinet locks to keep curious minds away from things that could hurt them. You can always remove the locks later if you’re only having little kids over for a short period.

Save Time for Babyproofing Measures

Babyproofing strategies are different in every home. Walk through your house to look for potential dangers based on the ages of the children in your life. Whether you’re bringing an infant home, hosting toddlers or inviting families over for a gathering, you can prepare your living space to be safe for people of all ages.