Expecting a baby is often a magical experience — but it can also be incredibly stressful. Whether you’re struggling to save money or trying to stock up on diapers, preparing for parenthood is never easy. There’s lots to do before the day of your baby’s arrival, and one of the most important things to remember is to baby-proof your home.
From stairs to sharp surfaces, your house could be full of potential hazards. Although your new bundle of joy won’t start crawling about just yet, it’s best to put safety measures in place before they’re born. This means you won’t have to worry about installing new features further down the line.
In this blog post, we’ll share four ways you can baby-proof your house.
1. Add Child-Proof Locks
Knives, bleach, heavy tins — our drawers and cupboards contain many items that aren’t safe for our kids. To keep these dangers out of reach, invest in a set of magnetic cabinet locks. These will prevent your little one from getting their hands on objects that could cause them harm. Even better, you can attach magnetic cabinet locks using adhesive, which means you won’t have to drill permanent holes into your cupboards!
Where do you keep chemical products such as detergents? If the answer is ‘out on the counter’, you should definitely reconsider. Tidy any toxic products into your cupboards and keep them locked away.
2. Install A Stair Gate
Stair gates are one of the most important safety features for a young family. The idea of your baby falling down the stairs is probably your worst nightmare — but for around 100,000 parents a year, it’s a horrible reality.
According to research by the Center for Injury Research and Policy, an American child under the age of 5 falls down the stairs every six minutes. To keep your kids safe, make sure to install a stair gate at the top and bottom of your stairs. This will prevent your child from taking a tumble and becoming a scary statistic.
You can also use stair gates to block off any rooms that don’t have doors (for example, an open-plan kitchen).
3. Use Safety Blinds
Many of us use blinds to control the amount of light that comes through our windows. But if you’re planning to hang blinds in your nursery, choose them very carefully. Roller blinds with long cords are incredibly dangerous and, tragically, can even be fatal.
If your child’s cot is near the window, always choose a blind with an adjustable cord. This will enable you to keep the cord out of your baby’s reach. Make sure it’s high enough that they won’t be able to grab it when they’re standing up. Alternatively, play it safe with child-proof tassels and cord stops.
4. Use Doorstops Or Hinge Protectors
Once your baby is starting to walk, you’ll discover that almost anything can be a hazard. Small children often rely on items of furniture to pull themselves up from the floor. If your door is open, they may try to grab the corner for leverage — but this can place them at serious risk of trapping their little fingers in the hinges.
To prevent this problem, add a secure doorstop or hinge protectors to your doors. These will make sure the door can’t slam shut, keeping your baby (and their fingers) safe.
Are you a mom or dad-to-be? Follow these four simple tips to baby-proof your home and prepare for your new arrival.
