How to ‘Babyproof’ Your Home For a New Child
It’s no secret that pregnancy brings a wave of change with it. Though the physical alterations are usually the most focused-on factor throughout these months, expecting families should also be prepared to alter their lifestyle upon the arrival of their newborn.
See, once childbirth has passed and couples can finally introduce their baby to the world around them, it’ll be easy for the curious newcomer to get into a bit of trouble. Sure, those visits to the obstetrician might be over, but that baby is still experiencing a wild, rapid transition into life outside of the womb.
So, to ensure the child remains as safe as possible, parents will have to restructure their living spaces — something also known as “babyproofing”. In this article, I’ll go over some key steps to follow (preferably, done before childbirth) to ensure your baby can freely start crawling, climbing, and walking without encountering hazards.
1. Understand their Point of View
As a full-grown adult, it’s easy to overlook some of the things that might interest a baby. Since we tower over them, we can miss out on objects and spaces that we simply can’t see.
So, a great first babyproofing step is to physically get down to their level in every area of your home.
It’s as simple as it sounds: Start off by lying flat on the floor and scanning the room for potential hazards from the ground-up. For instance, are there items stuffed underneath the table or sofa? Pointy objects hidden within the carpet’s fibers?
Next, move onto the furniture, which is where most of the hazards will be found. Sharp table corners are an obvious issue, easily solved with solutions like rubber covers. Touch other pieces that can potentially topple over (i.e., small tables, coat racks, etc.) and consider anchoring them to the wall if they are too unstable.
Finally, identify all the loose and heavy items in your home that have the potential to cause injuries. Lamps, TVs, picture frames, and more can easily injure your baby if they accidentally bump into them, so they will either need to be removed entirely or anchored securely to the wall.
2. Eliminate Electric Hazards
Newborns are curious by nature, which is an adorable thing to watch — yet also one that can cause issues down the line. For instance, a well-known occurrence is for children to stick random items into electric sockets.
Don’t worry; this doesn’t mean you have to go off-the-grid entirely and shut off your power. A simple fix is to cover these outlets with tight-fitting covers that prevent children from shoving anything inside.
3. Put Hazardous Products Out of Reach
As a busy couple, you might be used to leaving your laundry, cleaning, and other toxic products in various locations. However, this is a habit that will need to be changed once your pregnancy has come to an end and your child is near these hazards.
After every cleaning session or laundry day, be sure to return these items to a cabinet — preferably one that locks — that is high and out of reach. The same goes for medicine.
4. Place Gates in front of Stairs
If you have a two-story home, blocking access to your stairs is a crucial step for preventing accidents. Though a newborn won’t be crawling around anytime soon, it’s always worth preparing in advance for the six-month mark, which is when they’re ready to begin moving about on their own.
Purchasing screw-in gates that can be attached directly into your walls without being knocked over is the best choice, as you never know how determined your child might be to get through!
5. Prepare Your Relationship
Finally, an easily overlooked aspect of preparation is to continue supporting your relationship.
Though physically protecting your child remains the most crucial aspect for a new family to focus on, ensuring they have a happy and strong parental unit to grow up with is just as important. So, as you “babyproof” your home, don’t forget to put aside time for your relationship along the way.