They say that the ideal time to baby-proof your house is three months before the expected due date. However, we advise all expecting parents to do it as soon as possible, because other baby-proofing methods may take longer than usual! Soon enough you will be busy with all the preparation, and before you know it - your baby will be crawling and reaching out for loose cords!
First things first: Do not underestimate your toddler’s ability to get into some form of trouble that you wouldn’t have thought possible! They will be exploring how to move their bodies and make use of their five senses; so they will try to touch, taste, and feel anything that they see and hear. Rule of thumb is to get down on your knees (more so – belly), and try to see the world through a toddler’s point of view.
Here are some points to remember when baby-proofing your home:
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1. Cover all sharp furniture edges and corners with bumpers and paddings
Make sure that you get all those table edges. Drawers, cabinets, chairs – everything that has a sharp corner is considered hazardous.
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2. Install safety guards
Safety guards are those installable short rails that you usually see in houses with babies. They are put in between the kitchen and the hallway, the top and bottom of stairs, and to the entry of bathrooms. This will keep your child from entering areas that may be potentially dangerous.
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3. Pay attention to loose cords and plugged-in appliances
Use cable ties or binder clips to wrap up your gadget cords, appliance cords, and window blind cords so they are totally tucked in and out of reach. For your gadgets, buy or make a box-type cable organizer and charging station where you could easily put everything inside. Turn off your appliances when not in use, make sure they are pulled out of the plug, and install smoke detectors all over the house.
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4. Choose your baby toys carefully
You will need to go shopping for baby toys like rattles and teethers. Before doing so, keep in mind that babies like putting stuff inside their mouths. Choose your toys carefully and buy the ones that have very big parts. Also check if the parts are sturdy and not easily detachable.
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5. Reduce bath time hazards
You will be giving your baby a bath in 10-14 days after birth. Ensure total safety by preparing a slip-resistant and collapsible baby bath tub that you can easily bring anywhere, as well as an anti-slip bath mat where you will lay your baby down afterwards.
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6. Beware of reachable poisons
You’re done baby-proofing your house, and now you’re thinking if there’s anything left to attend to. Here’s one thing that might have slipped your mind: Hide away all potentially poisonous substances. Medicine bottles, perfumes, toiletries, etc. - You might not consider them hazardous at first, but all of these chemicals can be poisonous to your baby when ingested. Hide them away in high cabinets that cannot be reached, or lock your cabinets altogether.
A few parting reminders from us: Accidents are called accidents for a reason, and sometimes – no matter how much we prevent them from happening, they still do. Make sure you pay close attention to all the details we mentioned above, and remember that it’s better to be over-prepared than to be not prepared at all.
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