Your baby may only be a few months old, but in no time at all, she or she will start to crawl – and want to explore your entire house. Children are naturally curious and, as a result, want to touch new and unfamiliar things, but while you may know not to touch an open outlet or put a penny in your mouth, does your baby? Don’t let curiosity get the best of your child, and make sure that, by the time your baby is six months old, your home is baby-proofed.
If you are unsure about which products are necessary for baby-proofing a home, think about all large and small aspects: the stairs, toilets, windows, outlets, and tables, just to name a few. Writer Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick for Germantown Patch has a few suggestions for baby-proofing a home, including what to proof and standard safety products:
• Protect your stairs with hardware-mounted baby gates at the tops and bottoms. Pressure-mounted gates, however, fall down more easily.
• Make sure all furniture and television sets are secured in place. Furniture that moves can become a fall hazard – especially if your child tries to climb.
• Add window guards and cordless blinds to all windows.
• Use slide plate covers over outlets. Outlet plugs can become choking hazards for babies and small children.
• Lock all cabinets and drawers.
• Use a toilet lock.
• Pad the corners on tables.
• Make sure small objects are out of sight and reach.
McGolerick also gives another helpful suggestion to parents: think about your home from a child’s perspective. To go about this, ask yourself, “What would I want to touch, climb on, or put in my mouth?” All homes are different, and each has its own set of hazards. To address those specifically in your own home, decide what a child could potentially go after and make sure it is secured, covered, or locked.
