Baby proofing is taking steps to make your home safe for your baby or toddler. Baby proofing precautions you might need to take include:. Adding barriers, like a baby gate, to keep your child away from hazards such as stairs or fireplaces.
Locking dangerous things for example, household chemicals, medicines away or moving them out of reach. It's also important to keep in mind that no safety measure can replace parental vigilance and careful supervision. You might find you have more energy for baby proofing during the second trimester of your pregnancy , between around 14 and 27 weeks pregnant.
This is when many mums-to-be get an energy boost and some of the more debilitating early pregnancy symptoms like nausea and fatigue may be wearing off. Baby proofing is an ongoing task though, so you may need to do several rounds of it and keep a watchful eye out for anything that may be unsafe as your infant becomes bigger and more agile.
You may also have to do additional rounds of child proofing as your child gets taller and is able to reach more cupboards, for example. Here are some ways to baby proof your home to protect your baby from coming into contact with electrical cords and power outlets.
Cover plug sockets. Baby proof power outlets with a cover. For example, crawling under your desk may remind you of the rarely used outlet beneath it. Tie up or cover electrical cables. Baby proof all cables and cords, including the ones for your charging devices, computer, Wi-Fi router, home entertainment centre, lamps and household appliances. Your baby or toddler could get an electric shock if he or she chews on a cable.
Flexes and cables can also be a strangulation hazard. Protect and hide electrical wires in child-safe cable tubes or secure them high up out of reach. Block power outlets and cords with furniture. In some cases, you may be able to block access completely by using heavy furniture like a bookshelf or a TV stand, for example. When baby proofing your house, make the floor a safer place for your baby to crawl, walk and play by doing the following:.
Remove any small objects that are in reach. Children love putting things in their mouths. Button batteries are especially hazardous, because if swallowed they can short-circuit and discharge, causing internal burns. Remove or secure rugs. When your child is old enough to walk, rugs can become a tripping hazard.
You might decide to roll them up and pack them away until your child is older and steadier on his or her feet. Here are a few things you can do:. Install window restrictors. These essential items of baby proofing kit allow you leave a window slightly ajar for ventilation, but without it opening far enough for your child to fall out. These devices should not allow a window to open more than 6. Even if you do use a window restrictor, never leave your child unattended next to an open window.
Add child proof window locks. Always remember to lock windows when you close them. If window locks or restrictors use a key, adults in the house should know where the keys are kept so the windows can be opened in the event of a fire.
Remove any furniture from under windows. Children can climb onto furniture to access a high up open window, so move any furniture that your child could climb up on. Use cordless window coverings. Cords can be a strangulation hazard. If you do have any loose dangling cords, cut them shorter, tie them up, wrap them around a cord cleat or use other safety devices like cord wind-ups to keep them out of reach of your child. Use shatterproof glass.
Find out if your windows already have shatterproof glass modern double-glazed windows often do. Use door stoppers. Use baby gates to close off doorways. You could lock doors that you want to remain off-limits to your child, but in some cases you might like to have the door open between rooms but still prevent your little one from accessing certain areas. In this case, baby gates are a great solution. Make glass doors and panels safe. Glazed doors should have safety glass whenever the glazed part is at child-level.
Instead of replacing the glass, it may be possible to add a layer of safety film to an existing glass door or panel. Install finger guards over door hinges. Sometimes when doors open a gap appears between the hinge and the doorframe, and little fingers could get trapped in this space when it closes up again. A finger guard installed over this gap can prevent painful accidents like this from happening. From baby proofing the coffee table and cabinets to securing the TV stand, take steps to make sure your furniture is safe and secure.
Here are a few baby proofing tips to consider when it comes to your furniture:. Secure large, heavy items. Sooner or later, your little explorer will try to pull him or herself up by holding onto objects. Anti-tip straps or brackets which attach to the furniture and wall may be supplied with new furniture, but you can also find them in most DIY stores for existing furniture. Baby proof sharp corners. All sharp edges on furniture should be cushioned to prevent injuries if your toddler bumps into them.
Put corner guards on table edges, especially lower-level furniture like coffee tables, bedside tables and TV stands. Fit safety catches to cupboard doors or low drawers. Johnson Abor.
Both options are free and confidential, and provide expert, evidence-based recommendations. Please provide a citation for your ridiculous assertion that certain breeds are "more likely" to attack babies. I won't be reading the site anymore.
By Melissa Bykofsky Updated September 25, Save Pin FB More. Asian toddler boy escaping from play pen. Childproof cabinet locks and drawer locks for those that contain harmful products once your baby can climb, he can reach anything Stove-knob covers, to prevent baby from turning on the burners Nonskid pads for rugs.
Stick-on corner cards for furniture with sharp edges Childproof outlet coverings Cordless blinds the cords on blinds and curtains are strangling hazards.
A thick piece of carpet or a rug to cushion falls A safe toy box, ideally an open bin boxes with heavy lids can be dangerous for a baby UL-listed night-lights and replacement bulbs Finger-pinch guards for hinges on doors.
Latches for the medicine cabinet A toilet lock A thermometer to ensure baby's bathwater is a safe temperature. Place safety gates at the entrance or exit to any room that's off-limits to baby, such as a formal living room. Make sure all of your houseplants are non-toxic varieties. Some plants are extremely poisonous. Vacuum regularly to suck up loose change, paper clips, or any small item that can cause choking.
Place locks on liquor cabinets; alcohol can be poisonous to young children. Cover radiators and heating vents to prevent burns. Check your doorstops; many have removable caps that pose a choking hazard. Keep toy batteries safely stowed away; they can leak acid, causing serious burns. Clear cosmetics and shampoos off sink and tub ledges, as they pose a poison risk.
Comments 1. Sort by: Newest. Newest Oldest. Read More. At the first sign of climbing, any chemicals you stashed out of reach earlier should be locked up or moved higher. Some baby obsessions turn out to be short-lived: One week your tot repeatedly drags a bag of flour off the shelves, the next she wants to cruise along the coffee table.
Cynthia Lennon, a mom of three in Guelph, Ont. With her third, the hazards have changed again: This baby will soon be learning to crawl amid all the Lego bits strewn around the house.
Mariana Brussoni, a child safety expert in Vancouver, warns of the false sense of security that comes from checking everything off the list. She says parents should aim for limited or supervised freedom.
Set mattress to lowest level possible, and consider using sleep sacks. Read more: I ditched the baby gate and let my kid eat dirt—and I was a better mom for it How do I babyproof?
When your baby starts climbing.
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