As baby’s arrival nears, it’s likely that the nesting urges have come on strong. And during your intense scrub down of your entire house, it might occur to you that your pre-baby house isn’t exactly baby-friendly…so now what? Not to worry! With a few minor adjustments to your home, it will be ready for your new arrival in no time.
Be the Baby
Get crawling! In order to have the best idea as to what your little one may come into contact with, it’s recommend you put yourself in her shoes (or lack of). Keep an eye out for things you’re able to pull down or potentially have fall on you. Also make sure to remove items left under furniture or shelving displays. Be particularly observant in kitchen and bathroom spaces — they’re the two most hazardous places for little ones.
Making Wiggle Room
Leave no room for doubt when it comes down to providing a safe home environment for your child. Schedule a weekend to baby proof, going room by room on all fours to ensure a peace of mind once the little one arrives.
The Nursery
- Make sure toys are secured within a safe toy box (one with a removable lid or hinges with safety stops).
- Keep cribs away from windows.
- If the crib is a hand-me-down that is over five years old, it may not be up to modern safety standards (visit jpma.org for more details).
- Pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and other bedding material are not recommended for little ones under six months due to suffocation risks.
- Use night-lights that aren’t hot to the touch.
- Door hinges should be equipped with finger-pinch guards.
The Kitchen
- Move cleaning supplies from lower level cabinets to higher ones.
- Should the little one get into low level cabinets or drawers, make sure they’re filled with safe items to come into contact with (paper products, plastic containers, etc).
- Always make sure the dishwasher is shut/locked properly after use.
- Move up all those fun fridge magnets.
- Unplug all appliances when not in use, but be sure to not let any cords drape over.
- Conceal burners with stove-knob covers.
- Ensure rugs have non-skid pads underneath.
- Install locks on low-level cabinets that contain potentially harmful substances.
- Stay away from using tablecloths — babies love pulling!
Living Room
- Place cushioned corner guards on the edges of any sharp furniture (like coffee tables) in case of bump-ins with furniture.
- Move furniture and decor away from windows.
- Fireplaces should be screened and gated off.
- Mount bookshelves to walls to ensure items don’t fall.
- Use electrical tape to keep wires away and along the wall.
- Televisions should be mounted securely on tables/entertainment centers.
- Any framed artwork/photos should be secured to the wall with heavy-weight picture hooks.
- Use safety gates both at the top and bottom of staircases.
Bathroom
- As strange as it sounds, lock the toilet!
- Never leave items like blow-dryers or hair-straighteners plugged in after use.
- Lock all medicines/toiletry items to keep them out of reach.
- Purchase a non-slip bath mat to prevent any wet floor related tumbles.
- Thermometers are recommended for ensuring safe bath water temps.
Random but Important Extras!
- Vacuum on a frequent basis — floors often house small choking hazards that are accidentally dropped or brought indoors.
- Keep garbage cans inside cabinets to prevent small choking hazards from ending up on the floor.
- Look at your existing doorstops — make sure they don’t have removable caps.
- Double check that houseplants are non-toxic.
- Gather any and all stashes of plastic shopping bags and secure them in a locked cabinet/drawer.
- Install safety gates to block off forbidden rooms.
- Lock up those liquor cabinets!
- Heating vents and radiators should be covered safely to prevent burns.
Trust us, these small adjustments will do wonders for your peace of mind, and make your preparations for baby that much better. Get ready to snuggle, mama!