When to Childproof Your Home:
You don't need to childproof your home before baby arrives. However, it's a good idea to get started before you really need those safety products. Once your baby starts showing signs of readiness for rolling over and pushing up to crawl, you need to be sure your home is safe. Remember that babies learn those new skills fast. Don't be lulled into thinking your baby can't learn to crawl overnight!
How to Start Childproofing:
The easiest way to begin childproofing your home is to take several walk-throughs and think about your baby's perspective. Walk through your home once as you normally would, noting any sharp corners, doors that should be gated, dangling electric cords, poisonous plants, choking hazards, things that could be pulled over on top of baby, cabinets with hazardous contents or containers that are or could be filled with water. Then, take a second tour of the house on your hands and knees. You may spot additional hazards when you check from baby's perspective.
Childproofing Cabinets:
Cabinet locks are one of the most common childproofing products and they come in several different styles. Some cabinet locks thread through the outer handles, and while they are effective, they are not terribly attractive. Plastic push-latches that go inside the cabinets won't detract from the look of your kitchen, but they can be hard to use and may hurt your fingers. Magnet latches go inside the cabinets as well, and are simple to use, but they are the most expensive option.
You also could simply move dangerous products up high, leaving lower cabinets for things baby can play with safely.
Childproofing Electric Outlets:
You will need to make sure baby cannot push things into the electric outlets in your home. Simple plastic outlet covers are the cheapest option, since they can be found in bulk packages for just a few dollars. These can be difficult to remove from the outlets, even for adults, though. If a baby does manage to remove one, the size makes it a choking hazard. Some larger outlet covers are available to mitigate that risk. Another option is a new outlet plate that has built-in covers that slide away from the openings when they are needed, and close automatically when the plug is removed.
Childproofing Electric Cords:
Cords for electric devices are dangerous in several ways. Shock and strangulation are common risks, but baby also could pull heavy or hot appliances over by the cord. Make sure cords don't cross the floor or doorways, use zip-ties or cord winders to take up as much extra cord as possible, and don't leave large loops of cord accessible to baby.
Childproofing Sharp Corners:
Babies fall down a lot as they learn to pull up and walk. Somehow, they always seem to fall towards the sharpest surface in the room. Think about things your baby could fall against, such as coffee tables, fireplace surrounds, window seats, railings, or other furniture. You may need to purchase or make padded edge covers for those areas. Foam or fabric edge covers for tables or fireplaces are readily available at baby products stores.
Childproofing the Bathroom:
Before you start locking down everything in your bathroom, go to your home's water heater and turn the temperature down to 120 degrees F or less to prevent scalds. You may want to consider a toilet lock to prevent baby from playing in, or falling into, the toilet. Remember to do the same childproofing on the bathroom cabinets and closets as you did in the kitchen.
Childproofing Tall Furniture:
Bookshelves, armoires and dressers can all be pulled over onto your baby if he or she tries to climb them. Furniture brackets can be used to prevent those accidents. The L-shaped brackets are screwed into the furniture and then into a wall stud to keep the furniture from tipping. You can also be sure that heavier items are on lower shelves to make the furniture less likely to tip.
Childproofing Doors and Closets:
Remember that a closed door will not keep baby out for very long. Be sure you've removed unsafe products from closet floors and low shelves. You can get doorknob covers to prevent baby from opening some doors, but these can also make it difficult for some adults to get in or out. Placing a lock on the top of the door where only adults can reach is also a good solution, particularly for exterior doors. For doors that can remain open, consider a pinch-proof doorknob attachment that prevents the door from slamming on tiny fingers.
Childproofing Stairs and Other Areas:
Baby gates are the final step in childproofing your home. Gates can be used to keep baby away from stairs, or to keep baby contained in one play area. They can also be used to prevent access to areas that cannot be childproofed well enough by other means. When my daughter was little, I preferred to gate off the kitchen entirely when someone was cooking, just to make sure my little one couldn't gain access to a hot oven or a glass container left on the counter during meal prep. Baby gates are available in traditional styles as well as in many modern styles to fit in almost any space. You can even find gate segments that can be linked together to secure open floor-plan homes or to create a safe space for baby to play in the middle of any room.
You don't need to childproof your home before baby arrives. However, it's a good idea to get started before you really need those safety products. Once your baby starts showing signs of readiness for rolling over and pushing up to crawl, you need to be sure your home is safe. Remember that babies learn those new skills fast. Don't be lulled into thinking your baby can't learn to crawl overnight!
How to Start Childproofing:
The easiest way to begin childproofing your home is to take several walk-throughs and think about your baby's perspective. Walk through your home once as you normally would, noting any sharp corners, doors that should be gated, dangling electric cords, poisonous plants, choking hazards, things that could be pulled over on top of baby, cabinets with hazardous contents or containers that are or could be filled with water. Then, take a second tour of the house on your hands and knees. You may spot additional hazards when you check from baby's perspective.
Childproofing Cabinets:
Cabinet locks are one of the most common childproofing products and they come in several different styles. Some cabinet locks thread through the outer handles, and while they are effective, they are not terribly attractive. Plastic push-latches that go inside the cabinets won't detract from the look of your kitchen, but they can be hard to use and may hurt your fingers. Magnet latches go inside the cabinets as well, and are simple to use, but they are the most expensive option.
You also could simply move dangerous products up high, leaving lower cabinets for things baby can play with safely.
Childproofing Electric Outlets:
You will need to make sure baby cannot push things into the electric outlets in your home. Simple plastic outlet covers are the cheapest option, since they can be found in bulk packages for just a few dollars. These can be difficult to remove from the outlets, even for adults, though. If a baby does manage to remove one, the size makes it a choking hazard. Some larger outlet covers are available to mitigate that risk. Another option is a new outlet plate that has built-in covers that slide away from the openings when they are needed, and close automatically when the plug is removed.
Childproofing Electric Cords:
Cords for electric devices are dangerous in several ways. Shock and strangulation are common risks, but baby also could pull heavy or hot appliances over by the cord. Make sure cords don't cross the floor or doorways, use zip-ties or cord winders to take up as much extra cord as possible, and don't leave large loops of cord accessible to baby.
Childproofing Sharp Corners:
Babies fall down a lot as they learn to pull up and walk. Somehow, they always seem to fall towards the sharpest surface in the room. Think about things your baby could fall against, such as coffee tables, fireplace surrounds, window seats, railings, or other furniture. You may need to purchase or make padded edge covers for those areas. Foam or fabric edge covers for tables or fireplaces are readily available at baby products stores.
Childproofing the Bathroom:
Before you start locking down everything in your bathroom, go to your home's water heater and turn the temperature down to 120 degrees F or less to prevent scalds. You may want to consider a toilet lock to prevent baby from playing in, or falling into, the toilet. Remember to do the same childproofing on the bathroom cabinets and closets as you did in the kitchen.
Childproofing Tall Furniture:
Bookshelves, armoires and dressers can all be pulled over onto your baby if he or she tries to climb them. Furniture brackets can be used to prevent those accidents. The L-shaped brackets are screwed into the furniture and then into a wall stud to keep the furniture from tipping. You can also be sure that heavier items are on lower shelves to make the furniture less likely to tip.
Childproofing Doors and Closets:
Remember that a closed door will not keep baby out for very long. Be sure you've removed unsafe products from closet floors and low shelves. You can get doorknob covers to prevent baby from opening some doors, but these can also make it difficult for some adults to get in or out. Placing a lock on the top of the door where only adults can reach is also a good solution, particularly for exterior doors. For doors that can remain open, consider a pinch-proof doorknob attachment that prevents the door from slamming on tiny fingers.
Childproofing Stairs and Other Areas:
Baby gates are the final step in childproofing your home. Gates can be used to keep baby away from stairs, or to keep baby contained in one play area. They can also be used to prevent access to areas that cannot be childproofed well enough by other means. When my daughter was little, I preferred to gate off the kitchen entirely when someone was cooking, just to make sure my little one couldn't gain access to a hot oven or a glass container left on the counter during meal prep. Baby gates are available in traditional styles as well as in many modern styles to fit in almost any space. You can even find gate segments that can be linked together to secure open floor-plan homes or to create a safe space for baby to play in the middle of any room.
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