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Little bundle of joy inbound? Time to get that house ready for the baby! Having a baby is exciting and stressful at the same time. In addition to everything else you need to get done, babyproofing is an important task. Here’s a room-by-room list of everything you should do!
I keep my house clean. Do I really need to do this?
Yes. Even the cleanest house may have hazards for little ones. It’s a lot of work, but it’s the easiest way to dodge preventable injuries and keep baby happy and healthy.
When should I start?
You have some time to work with here. Babies aren’t on the move much before 4-5 months of age and even then, it’s usually just some scooting around on the floor under close supervision. However, once they start moving, you may be in trouble. Our son started walking around 9-10 months old, but had been crawling since 5 months.
General tips for every room-
- Keep floors clean and clear
- Cover all outlets
- Keep all cables and cords tucked away
- Change to cordless blinds or secure blind cords
- Secure heavy furniture such as cabinets, dressers, and bookshelves that can fall over
- Consider foam padding for sharp corners on tables, hearths, and anything else that is baby-height
- Secure the television
- Clear shelves that are at baby-height
- Move anything breakable out of reach
- Keep doors either closed or blocked with a stopper to prevent little fingers from getting pinched
- Keep medicines and chemicals well out of reach and preferably in a room baby doesn’t have access to
- Lock cabinet handles with either ratcheting handle locks or magnetic catches
- Consider dedicating a specific area for baby’s play area
- Stick to safe baby toys made of plastic or cloth
- Vacuum the floor regularly to pick up small items that baby might find otherwise
- Keep guns out of sight, unloaded, and locked up
- Install baby gates for stairs
- Prevent access to pools or hot tubs regardless of size
Kitchen
- Keep all cabinets and drawers locked
- Remove table cloth from table
- Get a locking trash can
- Lock stove knobs if possible
- Lock refrigerator
- Keep small magnets out of reach
- Turn all pot/pan handles away from the front or sides of the stove
Bathrooms
- Keep the door closed and locked when not in use and not pottytraining
- Use a locking trash can
- Consider a toilet lid lock
- Use child locks on any cabinet doors and drawers
- Turn down the water temperature on your water heater
- Get a non-slip tub mat
- Keep razors/scissors/clippers/etc. in locked drawers
Baby’s Room
- Get a baby monitor
- Use a crib that has fixed sides
- Lock all drawers and cabinet doors
- Keep all items out of reach of the crib including other furniture and toys
- Skip the crib bumpers, pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets
- Use a firm mattress only
- Lay baby on their back when in the crib
That’s it! These suggestions will get you on your way to a safe house for baby!
If you are interested in seeing some statistics behind these recommendations, click here for the CDC’s child injury report.
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