Baby Proofing Guide For Your Home

Baby proofing your home is essential to keep your baby safe. To understand the baby proofing guide, you need to understand what baby proofing actually means.  

Whether you have a cuddly baby who is content to stay wrapped like a burrito in your loving arms or a crawler or cruiser who’s eager to explore, one thing is certain: You have to baby proof your home (and fast — especially if your baby’s already a crawler). It is to be prepared to child proof the nursery, bathroom, kitchen or baby’s bedroom- any area of your house that poses a threat to your baby. Here is a baby proofing guide to help you start proofing your house for your baby. 

Your home might feel like the safest heaven, but it’s not a surprise how mischievous your little one gets. You must start proofing your house before your baby starts crawling. Here's how to baby proof a house:

Baby proofing your newborn's crib:

Once you bring your newborn baby home, he is likely to spend most of his time in the crib - napping during the day and sleeping at night. Ensure that you baby proof your baby's crib to give him a safe environment. Also, make sure you lie your newnorn baby on his back in the crib to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Do not use drop-side cribs. Leaving toys in the crib when your child is sleeping is dangerous for him. Your child’s crib should be steady and strong enough to withstand if he tries to shake it. 

Baby proofing your house:

Follow these pointers to begin baby proofing your house:

Start with the hall

There will be many bumps till your little one learns to walk, but you can do a few things for him to experience those little cute accidents in a different way as they might turn slightly dangerous. Adding soft plastic covers to sharp furniture corners, keeps your baby from getting a cut if he takes a tumble. Baby proofing also includes installing baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs which means he can't get up or down without a grown-up. Carpeted stairs soften the blow of a stumble, and keeping your staircase well lit (and free of toys) means everyone is less likely to fall over.

Stick your furniture to the wall

If you've not done this already, secure any tall or heavy pieces of furniture to the wall. Drilling your furniture into walls makes it less likely that your child will pull the whole thing down on top of himself. Wires and cords should be carefully hidden in case your child decides to give them a good pull.

Baby proofing your house further:

These are the next steps to baby proofing your home 

Fingers are important, protect them

Putting some hinge protectors on ironing boards and doors can stop tiny fingers from getting trapped or pinched. Modern plug sockets have shutters to stop your child getting an electric shock if he manages to get a finger inside, but protectors are still worth installing. Sockets are right at eye-level, and it can be tempting for kids to stick things other than fingers (such as bits of metal) into them. You should also try to keep all of your stationery and tools in a high drawer where your little one can't reach them. This is an important tip given in baby proofing guide to be followed. 

Stay alert in your own house

We know all the babies are curious and a curious mind will try to get into anything you leave lying around. If you're throwing away anything dangerous (batteries, plastic bags or broken bulbs), it's a good idea to take it outside immediately. Also, do put the bin somewhere your child can't reach. Burns is quite common. Keep hot drinks away from the edge of the surfaces, and put your cup down when playing with your baby. And it’s no one else’s but your responsibility first to take care whether you’re managing baby proofing guide’s tips well or not.

Locks are your bestfriend: Here's why

When it comes to baby proofing your home, locks should be your best friends. To start with, lock all the cabinets or drawers that contain potentially poisonous or dangerous products inside. It is not only to keep your child away from hazardous things but to also protect his fingers from getting trapped or pinched in the drawers. Use hazardous cleaning supplies or tools only when your baby is not around. 

Baby proofing your baby's bath time

Make sure you fill the tub just enough to cover your baby’s leg and not above that. Do not use hot water, keep it warm. 

Just remember, no matter how much you follow the baby proofing guide, there’s no substitute for your eagle-eyed supervision — kids can be surprisingly creative when it comes to getting mischievous. So always keep your child in sight and be extra attentive in the kitchen and bathroom. While you don’t need to hover at all times (after all, your child needs a little freedom to experiment and learn), staying close by and being observant gives you the chance to teach your child that some items are not for him. When you do see your child going for a dangerous item, use the opportunity to firmly say, “No, that’s not safe to be touched. Instead, take a toy to play with it.” When you can, use warning words like “Ouch!” or “Hot!” to reinforce your safety lessons. Eventually, your child will start to catch on it. 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.