What Is The Most Effective Way To Baby Proof A Home?

The safety of one's child is always a top priority for any parent. But how can you determine which precautions will actually prevent harm? The first step is to make your house safe for a newborn.

When you have children, every corner seems to hold a potential threat. To a certain extent, that is correct when discussing your house.

Your house can be an exciting and terrifying frontier for a toddler or preschooler learning to walk or explore.

Many parents worry about their children being hurt by strangers, but mishaps at home pose a much greater threat. Our exclusive range of baby nursery products will help create the perfect baby nursery for your baby.

You wouldn't believe how quickly a baby can get into bother. From the kitchen cupboards to the outlet covers, learn how to babyproof your home's primary living areas.

The Basics Of Baby Proofing

When To Baby Proof

Before the toddler tornado hits, it's best to secure the premises.

When babies are about five or six months old, they begin to roll onto their stomachs. Crawling follows shortly thereafter.

Before your baby learns to use anything in the house as a step stool, take precautions like fastening furniture and erecting gates.

Your Childproofed Home

Not only should you do what's mentioned below, but you should also:

• Water heater temperature should be set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• You should have smoke alarms installed on each floor of your home and especially close to any bedrooms.
• If your home is heated with gas or oil, or if you have a connected garage, carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in close proximity to bedrooms.
• Closing off unused plugs is a good safety measure.
• Put pillows at the four corners of the sofa.
• To protect your child from strangling in the loops of window blind cords, you can either cut the cords or instal safety tassels and inner line stops.
• Attach heavy pieces of furniture and appliances to the wall so that your children cannot topple them over if they climb on them.
• Younger children should have the floor checked frequently for toys and other small objects that could be swallowed. This includes toys with intricate designs on little parts, such as marbles, balls, deflated or shattered balloons, miniature magnets, Lego bits, and similar items.

Is your home safe for children?

How To Baby Proof

It's possible to gain a sense of your home's layout and security risks by taking a few preventative measures. The following is what professionals in the field of child safety advise doing.

Be Aware Of Your Hot-Water Heater's Settings.

We recommend turning your hot water heater down to a safe temperature, preferably below 120 degrees, to prevent burns to curious infants.

Kids have an increased interest in fiddling with knobs and turning things around the 15-month mark. They enter the restroom, activate the hot water, and promptly burn themselves.

Kids are burned all the time, but if the temperature in the restroom is kept below 120 degrees Fahrenheit, they won't be able to get hurt. It's a simple solution that most people overlook.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that the elderly and children under the age of five are disproportionately affected by tap-water scalds.

The CPSC warns parents not to leave their children unattended in the restroom for any length of time, as doing so poses a significant risk of harm to the child.

Always Keep Bathrooms Locked Or Secured.

Considering its size, the bathroom is a highly dangerous place. A few inches of water is all it takes for a child to drown.

Toddlers and infants have a natural curiosity for the toilet and for the medicine and cleaning supplies that can be found in bathroom medicine cabinets.

It is imperative to use childproof locks on bathroom doors and toilet lids, as about 90 children drown annually in households.

Your child will eventually master using the doorknob to open a door. As a result, it becomes more challenging to prevent kids from visiting inappropriate locations.

Covering doorknobs is one way to stave off this issue, as suggested by the National Safety Council.

How To Keep A Baby's Crib Safe

The CPSC found that between 2011 and 2013, there were an average of 36 deaths per year related to the use of a crib or a crib mattress.

And it's predicted that in 2015, 12,100 injuries related to cribs and crib mattresses were addressed in emergency rooms for children under the age of five.

In order to ensure their infant safety, parents need to know how high the crib rails should be based on the child's age. Looking for blankets for a baby cot? Look no further. My Baby Nursery has you covered.

The crib can be put at its highest position when the baby is a newborn, but as the child reaches a certain developmental milestone, such as pulling up, the crib must be lowered to its lowest position.

It's important for parents to know that babies shouldn't have any loose items in their cribs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against having any soft objects, such as blankets or pillows, in or near a baby's crib because of the risk of suffocation or entrapment.

There should be no crib bumpers at all, not even the mesh ones, because babies might easily become entangled in them.

Watch Out For Weighty Items In The House

By the time they're six months old, babies are constantly on the move, rolling, and exploring the floor. At this point, she recommends that parents put their infants on the floor.

You have to go down on the floor and take a look at things from their vantage point. At some point, you begin to think, "Maybe you should move that heavy stuff off that cabinet or make sure the cabinet is secure."

By the time a child is nine months old, he or she will have begun to pull up on furniture, which means that parents will need to secure furniture to the wall and remove heavy goods, such as televisions and lamps, from surfaces.

Nonprofit group Safe Kids Worldwide, which aims to reduce child deaths from preventable causes, reports that a child dies every three weeks as a result of a television falling over.

And about once every 45 minutes over the past decade, a youngster has gone to the emergency room because of injuries caused by a toppled television.

Things that happen in a short second can catch us off guard, even the most prepared among us.

Be Careful With Electricity.

Around the 15-month mark, babies develop a fascination with inserting things into other things, including electrical sockets; as a result, parents should secure all outlets with child proof covers to prevent their curious little fingers from poking through.

The cover may be a bother to replace, but it's still preferable to the plug-in covers that come with the outlets themselves. Those one-of-a-kind covers, if they are particularly small, may pose a choking hazard if they become dislodged.

Remember To Include Window Blinds.

Kids, despite your repeated warnings to the contrary, nevertheless enjoy wearing necklaces and chains. The cords of Venetian blinds should be kept out of the reach of youngsters, as stated in this warning.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that all parents inspect their homes' window coverings and immediately replace any that include dangerous dangling cords with cordless or inaccessible alternatives.

Nationwide Children's Hospital reported in 2017 that, alarmingly, roughly two children a day have injuries using window blind cords and require medical attention.

Again, the best option would be to switch to cordless blinds, but in the meantime, you may use these wraps to keep the cables out of the way.

Make A Small Object Testing System

Come up with a "small object tester" to aid parents and older siblings in determining what should be stored out of the baby's reach.

The rule of thumb is that if an old toilet paper tube can fit in, it's too small to be around a newborn and poses a risk of suffocation.

Check for any little items lying around; this is especially important if you have older children who still play with toys like Legos. Items like those go in a child's room where they can be safely stored.

Around Stairs, Use Gates

Parents should exercise extreme caution near stairways and either install safety gates at the top of the steps or close and lock any doors that lead to the stairwells.

About the halfway point during the six-month milestone, you should begin preparing. You don't have to do it while they're a newborn, but as soon as they start wriggling and rolling around, the gates go up.

The advantages of a semi-permanent gate like this one that you screw into place are considerable:

It's stable enough to leave open when you don't need it, and it doesn't have that annoying bar at the bottom that could cause you to fall.

Moreover, past experience has taught us that this gate is not trivial for children to scale.

Don't Let Children Access Cleaning Or Laundry Products

According to the CPSC, 84,000 kids went to the ER in 2015 after coming into contact with poison.

Laundry pods were in the top five goods that were involved in poisoning occurrences involving children.

Put away valuables in secure, out-of-reach locations. Parents should remember that putting dangerous objects on higher shelves won't prevent a baby from getting to them. When in doubt, locking it is the best option.

As a further precaution, please do not keep any prescription in your purse that a youngster could mistake for a treat.

Maintaining vigilance is required. You need to stoop to their level if you want to know what they might be considering.

Things can happen in what seems like the blink of an eye, and you can't remain on high alert all the time. The best way to avoid harm is to use common sense.

Locking up your cabinets is a good idea because curious infants will open whatever they can get their hands on.

These are an excellent choice because they will continue to work even when they are adults.

Make A Safe Place For Babies To Play During Chores.

Potential danger exists if infants explore the floor as their parents prepare meals.

These kinds of toys are ideal since they contain your child while you prepare dinner and keep them occupied, happy, and safe.

This one is height-adjustable so it can keep up with your baby as she grows, and it's loaded with fun features like music, lights, and sounds.

Beware Of Corners

To better interact with their infant, parents should get down on the floor and gaze about at their child's level.

It alters their perspective on their home, making it simpler to identify features that will appeal to a newborn.

It may appear like infants are drawn to sharp edges, so it's a good idea to equip furniture with corner protectors.

You should know that your area won't be aesthetically pleasing for a long time.

Putting soft baby bumpers on the edges of a living room table may seem like a defeatist measure, but they are necessary if you intend to keep the table there.

Trust me, they want to stick their cute little faces right into the blades. For the time being, at least, these are unambiguous.

Pro tip: Put adhesive on them if you "don't care" about the table and want them to be absolutely secure.

Remain Window-Guarded

Fifteen years into the study, we can already see a 50% reduction in window falls. But she did suggest that parents make sure their windows couldn't be opened more than four inches.

These stops for windows can be screwed directly into the window frame, but there are also suction cup varieties if you don't own the area or don't want to make holes. Another choice would be removable window guards that resemble bars.

Skip The Tablecloths

One major issue is the use of tablecloths. Inevitably, the table's contents will go flying when a child pulls it down (or uses it to try to pull herself up).

Restrict Access To Areas At High Risk

The biggest potential for harm is in communal spaces like the kitchen or bathroom, so it's best to keep people out of those areas.

Get A View From A Baby

It may seem ridiculous to get down on all fours, but this is the best position to take in your baby's environment.

Potential hazards, such as tempting trinkets or dangling blind wires, will be easier to identify.

Prioritize The Little Things

Not a metaphor, sorry to disappoint you. Keep an eye out for anything small and close to the ground that could pose a choking hazard.

The list of potential items includes magnets and button batteries. You may also discover the dust bunnies that have been hiding beneath the couch since you last vacuumed (and, unfortunately, ignored).

Dispose Of The Poison

Not only should you be cautious around the obviously acidic cleaning supplies, but also around the less obvious but no less dangerous deadly houseplants.

The Poison Control Center has put together a handy online resource, replete with photographs, to help you identify which plants are safe to consume.

What To Baby Proof

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you first start thinking about childproofing your home.

There are thousands of items on the market aimed at parents, many of which claim to provide their children with unrivalled safety thanks to various characteristics. Is it true, though, that they provide satisfactory results?

Here is a rundown of the various types of child safety items and the qualities you should look for.

Locks And Latches

Simple systems like these can be used to secure potentially hazardous materials, such as chemicals.

Locks and latches should be fashioned of strong materials that won't give way or crack under pressure. Also, pick locks and latches that are easy for you to operate.

Just in case you need it in the next three years, you have it. Poisonous items should be stored in locked cabinets or drawers that are out of the baby's reach.

Safety Gates

You are not allowed to proceed! Be the gatekeeper by using things that toddlers won't be able to open yet are simple for adults to operate.

If a slatted gate is what you're after, keep in mind that suffocation is a real risk for young children's heads if the spaces between the bars are wider than 2 3/8 inches.

Avoid using outdated accordion-style safety gates and be sure to measure the opening width before purchasing a gate.

Because of worries that children could choke on them, these items were removed from shelves.

Window Guards

A few of the products designed to keep kids safe from harm are literally lifesavers. Literally.

Guards for windows should be pressure-mounted and adjustable, with quick-release mechanisms for use in case of an emergency.

Guards For The Edge And Corner

Use these cushioned protectors to shield your young adventurer from the hard surfaces of furniture, fireplaces, and other household items.

Look for guards that won't cause harm if ingested and are big enough that if they become pried off, they won't cause suffocation if swallowed.

Outlet Covers

Little fingers fit perfectly into the tiny holes in your electrical appliances.

Remove temptation by covering outlets but avoid using the inexpensive plastic inserts that can become choking risks.

Furniture Anchors

Take care down there! It's not uncommon for creepy or crawly things to try to utilise a piece of furniture or a piece of technology to gain an advantage, but this is a risky endeavor.

A youngster may be seriously injured or killed if a large piece of furniture or electronic device fell on them and wasn't properly secured.

One of the leading causes of hospital visits for children under the age of five, this injury is entirely avoidable by securing heavy pieces of furniture.

To ensure that your little sweetheart can safely continue trying to scale any surface, use two anchors and be sure to screw them into the wall studs.

Whew! Are You Overwhelmed?

Keep in mind that baby proofing is a multi-step procedure that needs to begin well before your little one arrives.

Because the needs of each child and home are unique, it's important to do some serious pre-planning before getting started.

While there are many resources that promote DIY safety solutions, it's important to remember that these methods aren't always foolproof and can even be harmful. Check out our range of baby nursery products and furniture for all your baby needs.

If you want to be sure your child is secure, there is no replacement for high-quality items and skilled guidance.

Conclusion

You can assess your home's layout and security by baby-proofing. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are required in gas, oil, or garage-connected homes. Covering new plugs is safe. All children like to spin and twist things, especially those about 15 months. Parents must know when to raise the crib's side rails.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against blankets and pillows in a baby's crib. TVs tipping overkill a child every three weeks, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends parents examine their window coverings for harmful dangling cords and replace them with cordless or inaccessible ones. Children should avoid Venetian blind ropes. According to the CPSC, 84,000 children were poisoned in 2015.

Corner protectors on sharp-cornered furniture are recommended for curious kids. Also, observe your infant on all fours. The Poison Control Center has a comprehensive website with graphics to help you identify edible plants. Many of the hundreds of parent-targeted products claim to provide unmatched child protection. Unfortunately, dark creatures typically try to exploit furnishings or technology.

Content Summary

• The first step is to make your house safe for a newborn.
• Learn how to babyproof your home's primary living areas, from the kitchen cupboards to the outlet covers.
• Before the toddler tornado hits, it's best to secure the premises.
• Before your baby learns to use anything in the house as a step stool, take precautions like fastening furniture and erecting gates.
• Attach heavy furniture and appliances to the wall so your children cannot topple them over if they climb on them.
• We recommend turning your water heater to a safe temperature below 120 degrees to prevent burns to curious infants.
• They enter the restroom, activate the hot water, and promptly burn themselves.
• Kids are burned all the time, but if the temperature in the restroom is kept below 120 degrees Fahrenheit, they won't be able to get hurt.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that the elderly and children under the age of five are disproportionately affected by tap-water scalds.
• The CPSC warns parents not to leave their children unattended in the restroom for any length of time, as doing so poses a significant risk of harm to the child.
• Considering its size, the bathroom is a highly dangerous place.
• To ensure their infant's safety, parents need to know how high the crib rails should be based on the child's age.
• There should be no crib bumpers, not even the mesh ones, because babies might easily become entangled.
• At this point, she recommends that parents put their infants on the floor.
• By the time a child is nine months old, they will have begun to pull up on furniture, which means that parents will need to secure furniture to the wall and remove heavy goods, such as televisions and lamps, from surfaces.
• Around the 15-month mark, babies develop a fascination with inserting things into other things, including electrical sockets; as a result, parents should secure all outlets with child-proof covers to prevent their curious little fingers from poking through.
• The cords of Venetian blinds should be kept out of the reach of youngsters, as stated in this warning.
• Nationwide Children's Hospital reported in 2017 that, alarmingly, roughly two children a day have injuries using window blind cords and require medical attention.
• Come up with a "small object tester" to aid parents and older siblings determine what should be stored out of the baby's reach.
• The rule of thumb is that if an old toilet paper tube can fit in, it's too small to be around a newborn and poses a risk of suffocation.
• Items like those go in a child's room where they can be safely stored.
• About the halfway point during the six-month milestone, you should begin preparing.
• You don't have to do it while they're newborns, but as soon as they start wriggling and rolling around, the gates go up.
• To better interact with their infant, parents should get down on the floor and gaze at their child's level.
• It may appear like infants are drawn to sharp edges, so it's a good idea to equip furniture with corner protectors.
• You should know that your area will only be aesthetically pleasing for a short time.
• Putting soft baby bumpers on the edges of a living room table may seem like a defeatist measure, but they are necessary if you intend to keep the table there.
• Pro tip: Put adhesive on them if you "don't care" about the table and want them to be secure.
• These stops for windows can be screwed directly into the window frame, but there are also suction cup varieties if you don't own the area or don't want to make holes.
• One major issue is the use of tablecloths.
• Getting down on all fours may seem ridiculous, but this is the best position to take in your baby's environment.
• Here is a rundown of the various child safety items and the qualities you should look for.
• Simple systems like these can secure potentially hazardous materials, such as chemicals.
• Poisonous items should be stored in locked cabinets or drawers out of the baby's reach.
• Avoid using outdated accordion-style safety gates, and measure the opening width before purchasing a gate.
• A few products designed to keep kids safe from harm are lifesavers.
• Use these cushioned protectors to shield your young adventurer from the hard surfaces of furniture, fireplaces, and other household items.
• It's not uncommon for creepy or crawly things to utilise a piece of furniture or technology to gain an advantage, but this is a risky endeavour.
• A youngster may be seriously injured or killed if a large piece of furniture or electronic device falls on them and isn't properly secured.
• One of the leading causes of hospital visits for children under the age of five, this injury is entirely avoidable by securing heavy furniture.
• Keep in mind that baby proofing is a multi-step procedure that needs to begin well before your little one arrives.
• Check out our range of baby nursery products and furniture for all your baby's needs.
• If you want to be sure your child is secure, there is no replacement for high-quality items and skilled guidance.