Preparing for a baby is an exciting time for soon-to-be parents! While decorating the nursery is one of the tasks new parents often can’t wait to tackle, there are other preparations new moms and dads need to do to create space for their newborns—like baby proofing the home. Learn how to keep your new baby safe with these 20 baby proofing tips below!
Declutter Your Home
Lots of clutter around the house can cause stress for new parents. Take out any unnecessary furniture and move items you don’t want around your newborn into temporary storage. Not only does this make more space in your home for your new baby, but it can also reduce the chances of injury. Plus, a clean home will help give you peace of mind when baby proofing!
Protect Your Baby with Gates
Prevent little ones from falling down stairs or entering rooms they shouldn’t by baby proofing your home with gates. This will help keep little ones away from any potential dangers like climbing on exercise equipment or playing in areas with lots of foot traffic.
Secure a Cozy Nursery
To baby proof your infant’s nursery, make sure that all furniture is assembled properly. Check all screws and hardware, and tighten them if necessary. It also doesn’t hurt to review cribs and nursery furniture to ensure they meet required safety regulations.
Don’t Forget About the Bathroom
Bathrooms are filled with tons of things that can be dangerous for babies. Keep toilets locked to avoid any accidents. Utilize knob covers or baby locks to prevent access into bathroom cabinets or closets. You should also add a non-slip bath mat to your bathtub to prevent your baby from slipping during bath time.
Use Secure Baby Monitors
Monitors are another great way to baby proof your home and ensure your child’s safety. Opt for one with a camera so you can keep an eye on your little bundle of joy whenever they’re sleeping or playing. You can even invest in baby monitors that come with phone apps for more convenience!
Go with Plush Decor & Toys
When designing your baby room, think about safety first, especially with toys. Don’t include any toys that have buttons, beads, ribbons, strings, cords, or other small items that a baby can pull off or choke on. Also, make sure toys are soft and don’t have sharp edges.
Know Ideal Home Temperatures
Your baby isn’t able to tell you when they’re too hot or too cold, so it’s important to know the proper sleep temperature guidelines. Experts say setting the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees is within the ideal temperature range for baby rooms.
Remove Any Peeling Paint
Particularly for homes built before 1978, it’s crucial to get any flaking or peeling paint removed by a professional before preparing the room for your baby’s arrival. Exposure to lead poisoning from paint can be hazardous and fatal to children and families.
Decorate with Safe Baby Paint
When selecting paint colors for your baby room, make sure to ask for a water-based paint product. You should also consider purchasing safe paints that don’t require primers so that there will be fewer chemicals on the walls of your baby’s nursery.
Latch Doors & Drawers Shut
Child safety locks for doors and drawers are a necessity for preventing exposure to harmful chemicals, injury to your child’s fingers, and keeping your baby away from ingesting small items. You can easily baby proof cabinets by installing a lock on cabinet handles or knobs.
Take Care of the Kitchen
When baby proofing your kitchen, make sure that the refrigerator and freezer are always closed by using a safety latch. It’s also good to ensure that kitchen tools and silverware are in locked cabinets and drawers. Another helpful tip is to use placemats instead of tablecloths at the dinner table to prevent your baby from pulling anything onto the floor.
Guard & Lock the Windows
If you enjoy opening your windows to bring fresh air into your home regularly, you may want to baby proof the windows as well. Install stoppers or guards to prevent the window from opening too much, and make sure any strings or cords from blinds are put up so your baby can’t pull on them.
Anchor Heavy Furniture
Whether it’s in the living room, the nursery, or the dining room, secure any heavy items by anchoring them to the wall. This includes bookcases, dressers, mounted TVs and entertainment stands, free-standing coat racks, and even large wall art.
Add Cushion for Protection
Carpeting provides a comfortable cushion for babies who may take a small tumble. Use a non-slip rug to prevent your baby from tripping or falling on wood and tile floors. Or add another rug to carpeted areas to give some extra padding when your baby starts to move around more.
Use Caution Around Electricity
Electrical outlets are so low to the ground that children can easily reach them when crawling. Block all open outlets in your home to prevent your infant from playing with them. Outlet covers and safety plugs are baby proof products that are easy to install, and some even plug into the outlet.
Be Wary of Sharp Furniture
Falling or collisions with furniture is a danger for little ones at all times. When baby proofing your home, add cushioned corner guards or edging to furniture with sharp sides like coffee tables, desks, and even wooden arms on chairs.
Safeguard Your Fireplace
The fireplace is often dangerous for little ones. To baby proof your fireplace, put cushions on any sharp edges of bricks or stone to prevent injuries. Also, invest in a fireplace screen that secures to keep babies from playing by the fire. All fireplace tools should be relocated behind the screen or extracted from the area as well.
Hide Cleaning Supplies
When baby proofing your home, it’s important to make sure any cleaning supplies or chemicals are out of reach for the baby to avoid any accidents. Move cleaning supplies and laundry detergents to higher shelves, or place them in closets with baby locks or latches on them.
Store Pet Items out of Reach
If you have a cat or dog at home, make sure you keep pet supplies away from curious infants. Baby proof these items by placing pet food, water bowls, and kitty litter in an area that’s out of reach like a pantry, cabinet, or room that’s locked.
Remove Toxic Houseplants
Some plants in your home could pose a risk for little ones. Be sure to get rid of any houseplants that are toxic for babies, including daffodils and peace lilies. If you still want to keep certain plants in your home for decor purposes, move them to high-up shelves or suspend them from the ceiling where your baby can’t reach them.
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