Baby-proofing the house: Everything you must know

Baby-proofing the house is an integral part of prepping We hope the little one isn’t keeping you awake every night with the nonstop kicks! With the D-Day nearing, now is the right time you need to start babyproofing your house. At this point, your baby is similar to a cantaloupe, also known as Kharbooja in India.

Make your house baby-friendly where there will be less injury to your baby when she starts moving around the house. 

11 Tips to baby-proof your house before the baby arrives

Here are some of the important ways in which you should babyproof your house: 

1. Reorganize 

Reorganize every corner of your house to rule out any danger for your baby. Keep low cabinets locked all the time that contains cleaning chemicals and bars along with other hazardous things that should remain out of your baby’s reach. Heavy pots and pans should always be kept locked inside the cabinets. Keep all the small things out of your baby’s reach or else there might be a case of choking if your baby swallows anything accidentally. 

2. Close all sharp corners 

You need to secure all the sharp corners of your furniture with cushioned corner guards that will keep your baby’s head and other parts from the sudden injury. Make sure that the furniture is kept far away from the windows and doors that open outside of the house. Make sure that all of your small furniture is against the wall so that if your baby climbs up on the furniture then there is no risk of falling outside the house and getting injured.

Grandma’s Tip: Although your baby won’t start crawling around the house before six months, it is wiser to do the baby-proofing now. Because trust me, once your baby arrives, time just passes like the speed of light, and you won’t even realize when the little one has already started moving around the whole place. So, it’s better to do the baby-proofing of the house beforehand. 

3. Doors 

Always keep the doors of those places closed that can possibly lead to any kind of injury to your baby once she is inside that room. Also, keep the toilet door closed, so that your baby cannot reach to the pot or else she might keep her hands in the dirty water. Then she might place those hands in her mouth, which will prove unhygienic for her health and she might get down with diseases. 

4. Hide the cords 

It is impossible not to have hanging cords in your house as for electrical connections, you need to extend these cords and connection from one room to the another. But, you can always hide these cords behind your furniture like almirah or fasten these cords up with plastic clippers against the walls. 

5. Baby Cribs 

Make sure you buy a baby crib that has fixed rails. It should not have a drop-side rail since the rails are too small for the baby’s head to fit inside. Never keep any small toys, pillows, blankets or stuffed toys inside the crib of your baby or else there might be a danger of choking in babies. 

6. Medicines 

Keep those medicines off the floor and from the table as well and place them in the drawer. Drawers can be locked up so that your baby cannot open the drawer at all. Never take medicine in front of your growing baby or she might think that she can do it too and imitate you. 

7. Electric Sockets 

Put outlet covers on all active electric sockets of your house where your baby can easily reach and put a finger inside. Try to make them stay as tight as you can so that your baby isn’t able to take it out in any case. Look for cover plates that can be easily screwed on. If possible, place large furniture in front of the sockets. 

8. Unplug appliances 

Keep electrical appliances away from your baby and keep them switched off. Keep them inside the closet when they are not in use so that they are away from your baby’s reach. Some appliances like toaster, shredder, electric press might prove fatal for your baby and can injure her instantly. Also, if she gets tangled in the cord then she might injure herself badly. 

9. Alarms 

Place smoke alarms in your house and carbon monoxide detectors as well. Install a smoke alarm outside every room and on every floor as well inside your house. Do not put smoke alarms very near to the kitchen or bathroom as there can be false alarms in case of a hot bath and if you cook something in the kitchen. Always keep in mind changing the batteries of the alarm when it requires a change. 

10. Buckle up the changing table 

Make sure that the table on which you change the diaper has got proper buckles so that your baby is properly buckled up when you are not around. This will save her from falling down on the floor and hurting too. It is a good idea to plan ahead and get all the items near the table and within your reach when you are changing the diaper of your baby. But, if by chance you forget something, buckle up your baby on the table and then leave for your errands. 

11. Car seat 

Always buy a car seat for your baby and do not forget to secure it with a safety belt. This proves safe for your baby in case you put on a sudden brake. Your baby stays safe at one place and there is no fear of her falling down from the seat. 

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.