So your little one isn’t so little anymore! And you'd be surprised at how easy it is for a baby to get into trouble.
What will your baby get into once he's crawling? Walking? Able to climb? It's hard to tell -- and that's why it's important to babyproof your home. Making a house baby-safe means ensuring that whatever he might try to open, pull on, or play with won't hurt him. It also means making sure you have all the safety basics covered, such as confirming that all your smoke alarms have batteries (and that they work!) and that you have emergency phone numbers posted near all your phones.
Put aside one weekend to secure your house, room by room, to make it safe. It may only take you several hours total, and getting it out of the way will give you peace of mind, even though you'll need to update your efforts as your child grows.
Your doors
Before we go into stairgates and child locks – consider the most basic safety aspects of your home. Are your doors actually secure? You’d be surprised how many toddlers manage to make it out of the house by simply pulling at a door handle. If you think it’s time to update your doors and locks then take a look at doorstore.
Electrical outlets
It's a good idea to protect electrical outlets with outlet covers. Unfortunately, the removable little plug-in caps can easily end up in your baby's mouth. Instead, replace the outlet covers themselves – at least those that are accessible – with ones that include a sliding safety latch. If you're using extensions in your home, cover any exposed outlets with electrical tape.
You'll have to revaluate these precautionary measures as your child grows and remember: Childproofing is an ongoing process, The gate you put at the top of the stairs for your 1-year-old may become his favourite climbing structure when he's 2!
Installing gates
Most parents consider safety gates essential childproofing tools. They allow you to open outside doors for air while keeping your child indoors, they contain him within a designated room, and they block his access to dangerous stairways and forbidden rooms (such as the bathroom or kitchen).
Unfortunately, if out-of-date or used improperly, safety gates can themselves pose a hazard to children. In general, look for gates that your child can't dislodge but that you can easily open and close. (Otherwise, you'll be too tempted to leave them open when you're in a hurry.)
Never use pressure gates at the top of stairs. Instead, install a gate that screws to the wall – it's much more secure.
Check ties on blinds and curtains
Window blinds pose a particular hazard because a baby's neck could become trapped in the cords that raise the blinds or run through the slats. A child can become entangled in a looped window cord and strangle in a matter of minutes. Use cordless window coverings wherever possible, and avoid placing your baby's crib near a window.
What will your baby get into once he's crawling? Walking? Able to climb? It's hard to tell -- and that's why it's important to babyproof your home. Making a house baby-safe means ensuring that whatever he might try to open, pull on, or play with won't hurt him. It also means making sure you have all the safety basics covered, such as confirming that all your smoke alarms have batteries (and that they work!) and that you have emergency phone numbers posted near all your phones.
Put aside one weekend to secure your house, room by room, to make it safe. It may only take you several hours total, and getting it out of the way will give you peace of mind, even though you'll need to update your efforts as your child grows.
Your doors
Before we go into stairgates and child locks – consider the most basic safety aspects of your home. Are your doors actually secure? You’d be surprised how many toddlers manage to make it out of the house by simply pulling at a door handle. If you think it’s time to update your doors and locks then take a look at doorstore.
Electrical outlets
It's a good idea to protect electrical outlets with outlet covers. Unfortunately, the removable little plug-in caps can easily end up in your baby's mouth. Instead, replace the outlet covers themselves – at least those that are accessible – with ones that include a sliding safety latch. If you're using extensions in your home, cover any exposed outlets with electrical tape.
You'll have to revaluate these precautionary measures as your child grows and remember: Childproofing is an ongoing process, The gate you put at the top of the stairs for your 1-year-old may become his favourite climbing structure when he's 2!
Installing gates
Most parents consider safety gates essential childproofing tools. They allow you to open outside doors for air while keeping your child indoors, they contain him within a designated room, and they block his access to dangerous stairways and forbidden rooms (such as the bathroom or kitchen).
Unfortunately, if out-of-date or used improperly, safety gates can themselves pose a hazard to children. In general, look for gates that your child can't dislodge but that you can easily open and close. (Otherwise, you'll be too tempted to leave them open when you're in a hurry.)
Never use pressure gates at the top of stairs. Instead, install a gate that screws to the wall – it's much more secure.
Check ties on blinds and curtains
Window blinds pose a particular hazard because a baby's neck could become trapped in the cords that raise the blinds or run through the slats. A child can become entangled in a looped window cord and strangle in a matter of minutes. Use cordless window coverings wherever possible, and avoid placing your baby's crib near a window.