Parenting Pointers: How to Baby-Proof Your Home

Are you welcoming a new baby to your home? Whether this is your first, second, or third child, there are always some baby-proofing precautions you should follow. Proper baby-proofing will prevent your baby from falling down stairs, playing with dangerous chemicals, or getting electrocuted. What are some of the precautions parents should follow, and what are some of the hazards in the home you are -unaware of? Here are some great tips to keep your bundle-of-joy safe by baby-proofing your home:

Newborn Needs

New babies are not able to crawl; so much of the baby-proofing can wait until they grow older. However, newborns do spend a lot of time on their backs and stomachs doing tummy-time. You need to remove objects from the floor that might soon be inside your baby’s mouth. Small objects like marbles, Legos, crayons, or dog toys can be choking hazards. Focus on keeping the floors clean so your baby will not grasp and choke on any of these objects. 

Suffocation and Choking

Most of the hazards babies face stem from placing objects inside their mouths, blocking their air passages. Babies can also easily get wrapped up in a blanket, causing suffocation. Never put a baby to sleep with toys and loose blankets; they may get wrapped-up in the blankets and then suffocate. Always use approved furniture for your baby to sleep and play in. Modern cribs prevent babies from placing their head and neck through the bars, which can cause suffocation and choking. Also, be sure to pull up any loose cords that could potentially become tangled; or worse, strangle your child. Cords from window coverings are easy for babies to get tangled in--move loose cords up high and out of reach.

Falls 

Once babies can roll onto their backs, it’s time to start thinking about adding baby gates. Babies gradually learn to maneuver from simple roll-overs to scooting around the home. This increased mobility brings with it new precautions to prevent falling down stairs. You need to use baby gates on stair entrances to prevent them from taking a nasty tumble. Additionally, to prevent falls, secure any unsteady furniture in the home. This helps ensure that it won’t fall over if your baby tries to climb it.

Drowning

Babies are curious, especially when it comes to water. You must focus on protecting your baby from drowning by installing locks on the toilet lid. It is important to make sure your baby is unable to turn water on or off anywhere in the home. Never leave a baby unattended in the bathtub, even leaving the bathroom for a moment increases your baby’s risk of drowning.

Other Safety Tips

Place decals on all the windows and doors so a child doesn't try to walk through a glass door. It’s important to install safety locks on all doors that lead outdoors. Consider safety handles for these doors as it will keep your baby from opening them. Install safety plugs on all electrical outlets to prevent your baby from placing objects in the outlet. Lock all dangerous chemicals in a cabinet so that your baby is unable to reach them. Keeping your baby safe by following these precautions is not only important to their health, but also to your sanity!

This article was provided by Kelly Elder, live-in nanny and avid hiker. If you're parents of children who are working towards making their home safer and are doing a remodel or building a new home, Kelly recommends http://www.benditinc.com/pipe-coiling for your piping and pipe-bending needs.

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