It can be difficult to plan for a new baby. You can buy the bottles and read the books, but as your baby grows, your focus will be on keeping them safe. Baby proofing your house is the first step.
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After we brought our daughter home from the hospital, we had a million things on our mind… Is she latching right? How much milk is she getting? How long should her wake windows be? Is that crying normal? Is she too hot?
We weren’t worried about baby proofing or in-home safety. She couldn’t even sit up, let alone crawl. And then we blinked and she was suddenly on the move. It was time to baby proof- and quick!
The Ultimate Baby-Proofing Checklist
- Equip your house with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors on every level
- Make sure your home has a fire extinguisher
- Make sure your first aid kids are stocked and up-to-date
- Keep medication up high and locked up
- Put locks on your toilets, cabinets, and gas range knobs
- Turn down the temperature on your hot water tank
- Safely store firearms
- Never allow standing water more than an inch deep where your baby can access
- Make sure you have emergency numbers saved in your phone, as well as a family fire plan
- If there is any paint peeling, have it sealed or repainted- especially if your house was built before 1978
- Make sure cords are high up and contained/unplugged
- Don’t allow small objects- buttons, batteries, coins- to lie around
- Put safety covers on all electrical outlets
- Keep cords from blinds or curtains up and away from baby’s area
- Keep matches, knives, and other dangerous objects up high and out away
- Secure shelves, dressers, etc. to the wall
- Put soft corners on the edges of low tables, hearths, etc.
- Secure TVs to the wall
- Remove flimsy tables and furniture from baby’s area
- Install metal window guards and fireplace guards
- Keep the crib bare – no bumpers, blankets, pillows, or stuffies
- Keep all laundry and cleaning products locked away and safe
It seems intimidating, but when you begin to baby proof your home, you will naturally start to notice hazards. It gets easier to see what dangers lurk at baby-level as you work toward making your home a safe space. And don’t forget to get down on the ground and look at the world from your baby’s level- it’s the best way to see what spaces need your attention!