Guide to baby-proofing your home

The arrival of a baby is an occasion symbolizing the greatest joy. However, it will also imply that, as parents, you will have to get your house ready to ensure the safety of your kid. Especially after the child starts crawling, even the most innocuous objects in the house can seem like a potential threat for the toddler. Baby-proofing your home is not very complicated: once you are able to identify the areas of supposed danger, you can devise ways to make them benign for your little one. 

Safe sleeping

You must ensure the baby cot has fixed rails. Make sure the infant cannot fit his head in-between the rails. It is also a good idea to avoid putting the crib bumpers – even the breathable ones – inside the cot since they can come off and get mangled.

Tie up heavy furniture

It’s time to secure your heavy furniture and other electronic gadgets like TVs and stereo systems – just in case! Employ furniture straps to hold televisions, bookshelves and other furniture in place in almost all the rooms. Use corner protectors and edge guards that are readily available in the market or even in online forums to cover the sharp edges of furniture. God forbid, in a case where your baby loses balance, the protected corners and edges will ensure the infant is not hurt.

Say no to flaky walls

Cracked or peeling paint can leave dangerous residue on the floor. Since babies have a tendency to put everything inside their mouths, they run the risk of health problems if paint chips (containing high level of lead) are ingested by them. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way in keeping your baby safe from this potential danger.

Be cautious around electrical equipment

Around that 15-month age when babies are crawling all over the house, they tend to stick objects into electrical sockets. Installing tight-fitting electric socket covers that cannot be pulled out by the child’s tiny fingers is the best remedy to stay away from this danger. Parents must also be careful that the baby does not touch the other electrical gadgets in the house.

Lock your washrooms

The bathroom is an area where a lot of kids get injured. It thus becomes crucial to keep the washroom door fastened at all times. The toilet covers should also be secured with child-proof locks. 

Washrooms are also generally full of a variety of soaps, cleaners, disinfectants and even medicines – it is essential to keep these well out of reach of the younger age groups! Shampoos and cosmetics must be cleared off the sink and tub edges since they can be very dangerous if ingested.

Some other useful tips include:
  • Keep doors of cupboards and rooms closed so that the baby cannot enter without adult supervision.
  • Keep your toddler away from the kitchen.
  • Guard your windows and balconies with grills.
  • Keep non-toxic varieties of house plants.
  • Vacuum your floors and sofas regularly to suck up stray objects, paper bits, clips and other objects that might result in choking.
  • Keep sharp tools like scissors, razors and nail-cutters in closed compartments which are safely out of your child’s reach.
  • Replace your blind cords with ones that are shorter in length.
  • Secure your liquor cabinets with child locks – alcohol can be very poisonous for little babies. 
  • Keep an eye on toy batteries – they can sometimes leak and prove to be very hazardous if ingested. The toys must also be made from children-friendly material.

If you are about to become a parent for the first-time, the above checklist will help you ensure your baby is safe and secure around the house. It is suggested to start this process even before the baby is actually born so that you have enough time to plug the loopholes. 

Happy parenting!

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