For “Baby Safety Month,” we wanted to break down the basics of baby proofing your home. As a working mother of three, I know all too well that it’s pretty much impossible to keep your eyes on your children at all times. By taking the time to baby proof your home the right way, it will help take away some of your anxiety and fears of “what if”?

One of the biggest challenges of baby proofing is knowing where to start. The first thing you need to do is assess your baby’s status. Is he/she crawling, standing/cruising or walking? Each of these milestones presents a new set of obstacles, but it takes most children 3-6 months to move to the next stage. This means that you don’t need to do it all at once!  [If this is already stressing you out, I would go ahead and recommend you hire a childproofing expert!].

According to the blog “Proofed,” the majority of parents do take the time to baby proof their home in some way (round of applause!), but few parents know how to start the process. That’s why we’re here! We’ll break it down by going through each room of the house:

LIVING ROOM: Let’s start in one of the most lived-in rooms in the house. If you don’t have your TV mounted to the wall, be sure to buy anti-tip straps. The same goes for other heavy furniture. Many coffee tables have sharp edges that babies can bang their heads on. Prevent this by adding adhesive padding to the corners. If you have a fireplace, keep a barrier around the fireplace and pad the hearth if needed. Use electrical plug covers for all outlets and don’t run any cords under rugs. Lastly, move large climbable furniture away from windows and install window guards and straps to keep windows from opening more than four inches. Be sure to tie up any cords from blinds as those are strangulation hazards!

KITCHEN: Go ahead and remove any toxic cleaners out from under your sink and move to a locked location that’s out of reach (e.g., a high shelf in a closet). Use outlet covers and keep appliances stored away. Use cabinet locks or straps for all cabinets, oven door (if low to the ground) and refrigerator door. Stick to the back burners when using the stove and turn pot handles to the back. Many retailers sell stove top guards and knob covers. Lastly, don’t forget the dishwasher! Before you know it, a baby could grab a sharp knife out of an open dishwasher, so make sure you keep the door closed and locked when they are around. Also, always load knives into the dishwasher facing downward (and near the back!).

LAUNDRY ROOM: Lock up all dishwashing detergent (especially pods!) and keep them out of reach. Use adhesive locks to keep the washer/dryer doors closed. Some washers and dryers already have child locks, so check your manual. Cover any outlets.

NURSERY: Move your baby’s crib away from the window and don’t hang anything heavy or unstable over it. When the baby is on the changing table, be sure to use the pad’s safety belt. Some of those cute nightlights can get hot, so make sure you keep those out of reach or find a new one that stays cool! Lastly, use outlet covers (this basically goes for every room in the house, so buy a big pack!)

BATHROOM(S): Make sure you check your water heater’s temperature. It should be set at less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Several brands sell thermometers for the bathtub as well, taking the guesswork out of baby’s bath time. You can find cute bath spout covers to protect your baby’s head from a hard bump as well. Anti-slip mats are a great idea. Most importantly, NEVER leave your baby alone in the tub, even if it’s for just a minute.

Make sure you keep toilet seats locked, as well as cabinets with toxic toiletries and medicines. Unplug all appliances like curling irons, electric shavers and hairdryers.

STAIRS (IF APPLICABLE): Use a gate at the top of the stairs (we recommend the bottom as well!) and make sure you check them periodically because they can get loose over time. Tension mount gates, hardware fixed mount gates, superyards…we know the search for the right gate can be daunting. The popular blog “Lucie’s List” has a list of her favorite, parent-test gates. Check them out there.

OUTSIDE: We all know the risks that go along with having a pool in the backyard. Check out this blog to find out the steps you need to take RIGHT NOW. Swim University blog. Several companies make clear, outdoor netting for your deck or patio. Lastly, make sure you know which of your plants can be toxic to children if eaten

As we wrap up this blog (no pun intended!), we wanted to include a short section on baby proofing for the Christmas holiday.

• The Tree: Use LED plastic lights instead of the easily breakable glass lights of past. Place breakable ornaments higher up on the tree and make sure there is no climbable furniture near the tree. Unplug the tree every night (you should already be doing this!). If you don’t trust your baby near the tree, you can block their access altogether using a superyard barrier or extra-wide gate.
• Flowers: Poinsettias are lovely but they can cause nausea and vomiting for people and animals. The berries on Holly Berry shrubs contain a poison called saponin. Just a few berries can cause vomiting and other symptoms. American Mistletoe can cause stomach issues like the others mentioned. Another type of Mistletoe (European) can cause organ and nervous system damage if consumed. Maybe just stick to fake plants during this time of year!?
• Gifts: Keep your baby or small toddler safe by following this rule of thumb. If the toy is smaller than the diameter of a quarter and shorter than 2.25 inches, it can be a choking hazard. Most toy packaging will contain a warning if the item contains a choking hazard for children under age three.

In addition to baby proofing, there are other things you can do to keep your baby safe. Educating yourself is the first step! Here are some helpful websites to check out:

1. Safe Kids Worldwide: www.safekids.org
2. HealthyChildren.org: www.healthychildren.org
3. Recalls.gov: www.recalls.gov/
4. Make Safe Happen App: makesafehappen.com/get-the-app

We hope this blog has been helpful to you! We want to protect everyone that is most precious to you and help by making your home a happy and safe place for all who enter. This can be done by baby proofing your home the right way.

If you have any real estate questions or you’re ready to buy or sell, contact us!