Babyproof your home
Once babies become mobile, it’s time to think about baby-proofing your home. There is a wide range of safety equipment available which can help make your home a safer place for babies and small children, and a little common sense and planning will help protect your child from danger in the home and prevent them from damaging furniture and equipment.
No matter how many toys your baby may have on tap, there is nothing as tempting as those adult objects which he sees you using every day. The TV and DVD player along with their remote controls, your cellphone, the stove, plug sockets… all are highly intriguing to small children, so be sure to keep anything that may be dangerous (or easily ruined by prying fingers, drooling or chewing) out of reach.
You may need to re-think how you organize your household storage – for example, medicines will need to be stored in a cabinet that’s high enough to be out of reach of your child, or securely locked; and you may want to erect a barrier or gate in front of the TV, stereo or video equipment.
Remember too that small and seemingly innocuous objects such as pen lids, coins, candy or small toys belonging to an older sibling (beware those Barbie shoes!) can be just as dangerous to babies and small children as knives and electrical sockets. And try and keep purses and pocketbooks well away from little fingers!
General home safety equipment
Once your baby is crawling, plug sockets aren’t safe, and once she starts to pull up and toddle there’s a risk she could pull large items of furniture down onto herself if she tries to clamber up onto them.
Safety gates These can be fitted across the entranceway to rooms you’d rather your baby doesn’t get into, such as your home office; and at the top and bottom of stairs, or in the doorway of your home office. When buying a gate, check that the release mechanism is easy to operate (some require two hands, which is difficult if you’re carrying your baby). Portable travel gates are also available and can be very useful when visiting friends and family.
Fire guard If you have an open fireplace or wood-burning stove, you’ll need to invest in a fireguard to keep your baby at a safe distance. For further advice, read fire safety.
Electrical socket covers Electrical sockets are often at crawling baby level and just too tempting for tiny fingers, so these simple plastic covers are a great idea.
Wall brackets are a must for securing heavy items such as bookcases and TVs so your baby can’t pull them down onto her while attempting to scale them.
Electrical cable tidy These simple tubes keep electrical leads together and concealed.
Window locks These locks prevent windows from fully opening, so a child can’t open them wide enough to fall out.
Door slam protector This simple plastic pad fits around the edges of doors to prevent them closing fully and trapping fingers.
VCR lock This attaches over a video recorder and prevents your child from mailing anything into the slot!
Corner cushions These plastic pads can be fitted over any sharp corners in the home to prevent your baby from hitting her head.
Pets Remember to keep pets’ food, water and litter trays out of reach. Nets are available to put over prams and cribs to prevent cats from climbing in and suffocating small babies. Never leave your baby or child unsupervised with a pet.
Baby-proofing your kitchen
If you can, block off the kitchen doorway with a safety gate or place your baby in a play yard if you’re cooking. It’s all too easy for her to sneak up behind you and if you trip over her while carrying something hot she could be seriously injured.
Cabinet and drawer locks You may want to fit locks to prevent your child from opening drawers and cabinets containing dangerous items such as bleach or detergent, or from opening appliances. Alternately, you may simply want to consider moving dangerous items to cabinets that are out of reach.
Stove guards A stove guard is a plastic panel which fits in front of the stovetop to prevent your child from grabbing pans or fiddling with the controls.
Baby-proofing your bathroom
The bathroom can be quite a hazardous place for children, and you may want to consider fitting a latch that will enable you to keep the door closed when you’re not using it.
Non-slip bathmat A mat that attaches with suckers to the bottom of the bath and prevents your child from slipping while in the water.
Cabinet locks Always ensure that any medicines, cosmetics, shampoo and other bath products and cleaners are stored either in a cabinet out of your child’s reach, or in a securely locked cabinet.
Faucet covers These inflatable covers fit over the bath faucet, preventing your child from bumping or scalding herself.
Gun safety
If you have a gun in your home, ensure it is stored in a locked gun cabinet. Unload it before putting it away and store ammunition separately in a locked box well out of your child’s reach.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.