Ways to Baby-Proof Your Home

August 17, 2011, By Jeff Waddle 0 comments

Your little bun is finally out of the oven and you’re ready to take your bundle of joy home. Protect the new addition to your family by baby-proofing your home, which begins by examining your environment from a child’s perspective. For a baby’s-eye view, crawl through your home to determine what could be potentially dangerous. From crib safety to bathroom basics, try these room-by-room tips for child-proofing your home.

In the Living Room:

• Replace your electrical socket cover plates with child-proof ones or cover unused sockets with plastic plugs.
• Clear surfaces of small objects your child could choke on and look for sharp corners on furniture that need to be covered with padding.
• Check if houseplants and flowers are toxic or poisonous and remove accordingly. Keep plants out of reach and be familiar with the name of plants in case your child consumes one.
• Secure bookcases, shelves and bureaus to the walls to prevent them from toppling over.

In the Kitchen:

• Install childproof locks to cabinet doors and kitchen drawers. Put dangerous items—like knives or cleaning supplies—in places that are out-of-reach, like a high cabinet or drawer.
• When cooking on the stove, use the back burners and turn handles toward the back of the oven. Keep oven and dishwasher doors closed when your child is nearby.
• Clear the refrigerator of magnets that can fall onto the floor and end up in your child’s mouth.
• Have a bottle of syrup of ipecac on hand to induce vomiting in case of poisoning. Refer to your doctor or poison center before administering.

In the Bathroom:

• Set your hot water temperature to 120° F or lower to prevent burns.
• During bath time, place your child in the end of the tub opposite the facet and never leave them unattended during bath time. Install a lock-lid on your toilet to prevent your baby from falling in, because children can drown in an inch of water.
• Place slip-resistant mats inside your tub and around your bathroom to prevent slipping and falling.
• Don’t dispose of dangerous items like razors or medicine in the trashcan where your baby can find them. Instead, dispose of expired medication by flushing it down the toilet.

NEXT: In the Nursery