It's never too early to start baby proofing. In fact, the sooner you baby-proof your home, the fewer injuries you'll have as a result of your child being able to get into dangerous areas. That said, it's important not to overdo it—you don't want your child feeling like they're in a prison or something! Here are some things to consider when thinking about what needs to be done in order for your house to be safe for infants and toddlers:
Furniture
You'll also want to baby-proof furniture, which can be done by shutting off access to dangerous furniture, removing drawers and doors, replacing sharp corners and edges with rounded ones, and removing electrical cords. If you have any old pieces of furniture that are no longer useful but still in good condition (such as a rocking chair), consider finding someone who wants them for their nursery or living room instead.
There are also some great products on the market that will help you baby-proof your home. If you're worried about how much these products cost, don't be! Many of them come with a money-back guarantee if for some reason they don't work for your family. You can also find many free tutorials online for DIY projects that will help keep your little one safe at home.
Appliances
Appliances, like the stove and washing machine, are the biggest safety risk in your home. These days, most homes have gas stoves that require electricity to run. But even if you have an electric oven, there is still a high risk of fire when using it as they get incredibly hot!
If you are going to use a microwave, it's important to keep it out of reach and remember never to leave food unattended while cooking in it. The same goes for any other appliances with heating elements such as kettles or irons—they all pose the risk of burning if not used properly!If you have young children, it's important to keep your appliances out of reach as they can be incredibly dangerous. If you have an electric stove, make sure that there are no exposed wires and always use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet.
Water safety
Safety around water is of the utmost importance, especially for infants. Never leave a baby unsupervised near water, and always keep bath toys away from the edge of the pool or tub. It’s also important to never leave your child alone in a bath—just because they can sit up doesn’t mean they know how to get out if they fall over or slip under. Lastly, make sure that you always use a thermometer when giving your baby a bath—even if you think it feels warm!
Electric outlets
Plug covers are a must for outlets that aren't in use. If your child is old enough to push furniture on their own, it's important to make sure those plugs stay covered so they don't fall on their head.
You can also get plugs that are built into furniture, such as this outlet cover from Overstock:
The last thing you want is for your baby or toddler to be able to reach the outlet and stick something into it (as sad as this sounds). With these covers, there's no way they could do that unless they're strong enough to move everything around—and even then, it would be pretty hard!
Doors, windows and stairs
Your doorways and windows should have safety gates. These are bars that fit over the top of a doorway. For wide-open doorways, you can choose from several styles of gates including those with a walk-thru design that allows adults to easily get through, but keeps children out.
You may prefer a gate with an automatic locking mechanism if you don’t want to worry about keeping track of keys or remembering to lock it each time you leave the room.
If you have French doors in your home, look for easy-to-install hardware that will keep one set of doors locked while allowing access from the other side (and vice versa).
Windows need locks too! A simple hook-and-eye style lock should do for most windows on upper floors where kids aren’t likely to be climbing around anyway. If there are windows in lower rooms where kids can reach them or climb up near them, add locks specifically made for childproofing purposes — they’ll make sure your child can't open them at all times and begin exploring outside without supervision!
Cleaning products
Keeping cleaning products away from children is another important step in baby-proofing your home. It's also a good idea to keep them out of the way of any pets that may be around, as they can be harmful if ingested.
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Keep all cleaning supplies stored high on cabinets or on shelves that are too high for children to reach. This includes both traditional cleaners and natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and white distilled vinegar (WDV).
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Do not leave these substances anywhere within arm's reach: on the kitchen countertop or table; on a shelf near eye level; or in an unlocked cabinet where someone might accidentally knock them over.
Conclusion
The best thing to do is to start baby proofing your home before your baby arrives. You can then see what you need and adjust accordingly. We recommend getting started with this great checklist as soon as possible!
