Baby Proofing Your Home

Getting caught up in the excitement of having a baby can end when you arrive home and realize it is not baby proofed. There are sharp edges, stairs, doors, and all sorts of other horrors for a curious baby to explore. Well, take a deep breath, and realize that your baby will not be able to move for a couple months. You have a little time to baby proof your home.

Baby Gates

Baby gates are a necessity. They enable you to close off a room of the house that can be designated as a baby safe area. Baby gates will also secure potential hazards like open stairways. It is important to get the right kind of baby gate. On that mounts to the wall and swings open is great.

Small Objects

Babies like to put things in their mouth. It's natural. This is one of the ways they learn about the world. That being said, make sure that any choking hazards are removed from the baby's reach. If you do not know if something is a choking hazard, assume that it is.

Lock Cupboards

Purchase some cupboard locks for any cupboards that you do not want your baby getting into. These are generally cupboards that contain cleaning supplies or chemicals, sharp objects, or anything that could be deemed dangerous.

Electrical Sockets

Make sure that you cover all electrical sockets. The baby will naturally try to stick their finger into the socket. That would not be a good situation. It is important to buy an electrical socket that will not come off easily. This might be a pain for you, but you do not want one that comes off in your baby's hands.

Bumpers

Put bumpers on all sharp edges in the house. This will prevent your baby from falling into furniture and hurting themselves. They will fall, and fall a lot, so be prepared to baby proof your home with bumpers.

Doors

You can purchase coverings for your door handles to prevent the little buggers from getting into rooms they are not supposed to be in. This can be a great way to allow yourself easy access to a room while baby proofing the rest of the house.

Baby Monitors

Baby monitors are a must. While the baby is napping or playing in another room, you should keep your baby monitor nearby to listen for if something goes wrong.

Get a Second Opinion

Finally, after you have finished baby proofing your home, get someone to look the house over for potential hazards. A second set of eyes are more likely to find something than you are. This should generally be someone who has had children in the past.

After getting someone to double check your baby proofing skills, and you have received the OK, your heart rate should return to normal because you can rest assured that your baby will be a little bit safer because of your hard work.