Welcoming a newborn is usually the happiest moment in every family. Lots of preparations are made, one of them which is baby-proofing your home. Some baby-proofing steps may not be necessary immediately the baby is born, but they come to play once the baby starts crawling and taking his or her first steps. Most parents often forget to baby-proof some areas, which is the reason this article discusses what you should put into consideration during this process. So, ensure that you read this piece to the end so that you can create a child-friendly home for your little one.
Baby-proofing begins in your baby's room. Here, you will have to consider purchasing the best crib for baby. There are several factors that you should look for as you buy this crib. Some of these include non-toxic construction materials, sturdy base, good height, adjustable mattress size, soft slats and rails that shouldn't puncture your child's skin, reasonable spaces between the slats, among others. Once you get the best convertible baby crib, you do not stop at that. Ensure that you do not hang items that will attract the child's attention to avoid accidents. Also, do not place stuffed animal toys, thick blankets, and pillows, as these will just place your baby at the risk of suffocating.
Other than getting a safe and comfortable crib, getting a safe mattress also does come to play. After all, there is no point of getting a comfortable bed without a comfy mattress. As such, you need to ensure that you get the best mattress for crib. Some of the things a good crib mattress should fulfill are, high-density and firmness, plenty of vents, a fit size to the crib so that there is no uncovered space, non-toxic organic mattress material, among others. What's more, to ensure that you get the best mattress for the crib, check to see that it is certified for safety. Once you get your mattress, buy an organic waterproof mattress cover for it.
In the living room, the major challenge is furniture and electricity. To keep your child safe, place pads on all the corners of the tables and other furniture with sharp edges. Also, ensure that all electrical outlets remain covered while not in use. You can use either plastic outlet covers, or place plate covers that automatically close when nothing is plugged. What's more, ensure that your television is strongly fixed and supported by a sturdy Tv mount so that it doesn't trip over. Ensure that all cables running through the room are in areas that are out of you child's reach. Finally, purchase carpets if you have soft floors to avoid slipping, and keep all windows closed, especially if they are not secured using grills.
The kitchen is the area you spend most of your time, which makes it a place your child will come to, often. As such, you should take much time here deciding what risks your child is exposed to. Remember, while cooking or cleaning, you might not notice that you have company in the room, which makes your child likely to get harmed if you have unsafe items within their reach. So, begin with rearranging all cabinets and move all stuff you consider dangerous for your child to upper drawers and move the safer once to lower cabinets. Buy latches for all drawers within your child's reach and get all electrical cords out of your child's reach. Also, ensure that more to switching off your electronic gadgets, you also unplug them and store them safely. What's more, get knob covers to prevent your child from turning on the oven, and remove refrigerator magnets that your child can fit into his mouth. If possible, always use the burners at the back of your cooker as your child cannot reach them fast unlike the front ones.
Bathrooms are another area that you cannot ignore, considering the several risks they expose to your kid just in case he or she gains access. A simple step to baby proof your home when it comes to this area is to lock the door behind you every time you use it simply. However, this may not be enough as you might have visitors who might forget to close the door, which is the reason you should take some additional measures. Some of the things to do in your bathroom include purchasing latches for the medicine cabinet, more importantly, if they are within reach of your child. Also, get child-resistant toilet locks for the toilet so that you keep it locked every time it is not in use. Another thing to consider is to unplug all electrical appliances and keep them out of reach of the child. What's more, purchase some mats and rugs to place on the floors, and never leave your child alone in a bathtub or the bathroom in general.
Once your young one starts crawling, stairs can be a big stress. You do not want your child to cruise around and fall off trying to go down the stairs or as he or she tries to climb. As such, you will need to come up with some measures to make your stairs safe. A simple way to go about this task is by installing stairway gates. These gates are available in two types. The removable or pressure-mounted and the hardware-mounted gates. The pressure-mounted gates do not open and close, meaning that as an adult, you should climb over them. On the other hand, the hardware-mounted gates can open and close so that you can pass through. If you decide to get these gates, ensure that they can perfectly fit. What's more, always lock them once you pass, and ensure that you have both the top and the bottom of the stairway secured.
Once you apply the tips enlisted above, you can be sure to have a whole baby-proofed home. As the child grows to a point where he/ she can now be left outside alone, be sure to remove all stuff in the yard that can cause harm to your kid.
