Baby Proofing

When a child is first born, there is a limited amount of harm they can come to. As long as parents are watchful of a newborn, they are unlikely to be hurt accidentally. Once baby gets ready to start crawling though, parents need to think about baby proofing their house. Crawling babies can get into an amazing number of things that might hurt them, so parents should take as many safety precautions as they can. Common items include baby gates, which block off unsafe areas such as staircases; outlet plugs, which cover unused outlets and prevent children from sticking things into them; cupboard latches, to prevent children from getting into cupboards or doors from hitting them; and winding devices for blind cords, which babies can pull on. When baby proofing a house, it is important to be thorough.

An exploring child is likely to find the smallest hazard there is, including ones that most adults would never think of. One strategy is to literally put yourself in the baby’s shoes: get down on your belly and crawl around the house on their level, looking carefully into every corner and space for hazards. This will let you see what they see, and allow you to make things safer. Kitchens and bathrooms, with their cupboards and cleaners, are especially tricky and should be given careful attention. Fortunately, there are many books and other information sources dedicated to baby proofing. While none may fit your house exactly, taking the relevant elements of each should result in a baby-friendly home.

Related Information

Baby Safety
Baby safety includes safety at home, school, and in public.

Baby Safety Harness
A baby safety harness keeps your child attached to you.