How Do I Baby-Proof My House Checklist?
Moving a House is in itself an extremely stressful, time-consuming, and tiring task. Having to manage the process with babies and toddlers around tends to complicate things further. Even after moving into the new home, several things can go wrong and risk the Safety and well-being of your little one. Being constantly alert about what your little one is doing while also getting things settled in the new home can be quite frustrating. As such, baby-proofing your new home should be your top priority to ensure some peace of mind while performing other tasks. If you are wondering about how to baby-proof my home, the following checklist can come in quite handy.
Survey The House from A Baby’s Perspective
To make your house truly baby-proof, you need to get down to the level of the little ones to better understand what is most risky for them. The simple act of lying face down on the floor and feigning ignorance about the things around you is the best way to do so. When you are in this position you can better perceive the things and objects that might evoke the curiosity of your baby and inspire them to investigate. You can then separate these objects and take appropriate precautionary measures as per the level of risk they pose to the safety and well-being of the young one.
Install Safety Gates and Grills
Babies tend to be extremely inquisitive especially when they can move around on their own. However, this increases their risk of getting into accidents by a significant margin especially if there are stairs or sliding glass windows and doors in your new home. In such cases, installing safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs to prevent the child from tumbling down or getting hurt in their attempt to climb up. It is also advisable to use sturdy PVC grills or netting across doors and windows, especially if the baby has learned to crawl or walk.
Store Any Hazardous Materials Out of Reach
Most chemicals used in homes, such as cleaning liquids, hand sanitizers, floor disinfectants, and even liquid soaps often come with visually appealing packaging. Hence it is not surprising that children feel immediately attracted to them which increases their risk of ingesting them accidentally. So, it is advisable to store these chemicals and other hazardous materials out of the reach of the children as soon as they are unpacked. This is definitely the most important and common advice you are likely to get when seeking ways to baby-proof my home, as even ingesting even a few drops of these chemicals can prove quite dangerous for your little one.
Watch Out For Plugs And Electrical Outlets
It is quite common and extremely dangerous for babies to try to shove different things, such as a fork, a pin, or even their fingers into an electrical outlet. Hence, inserting safety plugs in any electrical outlets situated within the baby’s reach is one of the first things you need to do upon moving to the new house. If you cannot use safety plugs for some reason, try to cover the outlets in any way such that the babies cannot insert anything into them. It is also advisable to install a safety cut-out switch on the switchboard to prevent any instances of accidental electrocution of your child.
Hide Any Lose Cords, Ropes, Or Curtain Binders
When baby-proofing your new home, it is important not to leave any cords of electrical appliances hanging in such a manner that they can be easily pulled by the little ones. When within reach, the children constantly tug at the cord, bringing down the appliance it is connected to it resulting in a serious injury. It is equally important to hide any unused ropes or curtain binders as children may inadvertently become tangled in them while playing which may even lead to accidental strangulation. It is also advisable to avoid using looping cords for blinds that tend to hang down and instead use safety toggles as a more secure option. You should also avoid placing tables or chairs near the curtains as these might be used by the kids the climb up for swinging on the heavy curtain fabric.
Keep The Water Temperature on The Lower Side
If your child has learned to operate taps, it is advisable to avoid setting the temperature of the water system on the higher side. This might increase the risk of the children accidentally scalding their soft delicate skin while trying to play with water. It is equally important to ensure that no hot foods or beverages are left on the edges of kitchen counters, tabletops, or other places where the child can reach easily or even with some effort.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your baby completely safe from getting injured is impossible even for the most cautious parents. Using the above checklist to baby-proof my home can help avoid the most serious accidents especially when you cannot monitor your little ones continuously.
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