Childproofing the house is extremely important as babies grow up fast and before we realise, they begin crawling, rolling, and exploring their surroundings. Babyproofing the house ensures they have a safe space and helps avoid injuries. Transforming the entire house can be a daunting task. However, you can start with a room, nursery, and gradually move to other rooms, such as the living room, kitchen, bathroom, staircase, etc.
While keeping a watchful eye on your little ones is of utmost importance, babyproofing the house by clearing floor and keeping hazards items away from the reach of children will give you much-needed peace of mind when it comes to their safety.
See also: Safety rules for kids at home
What is babyproofing?
Babyproofing mainly involves installing safety essentials in a house and making changes to ensure it is safe for infants and toddlers while they move around and explore their surroundings. Some changes include installing safety gates, securing furniture to walls, locking cabinets, covering electrical outlets, and removing small objects. It prevents accidents and build a secure and nurturing space for growing children.
Babyproofing the house: Checklist
Babyproofing may mean you may have to undertake some repairs and renovations in your house or simply install certain safety essentials. Here’s a guide on babyproofing each room of the house.
Babyproofing the nursery
- Organise the space with proper storage for everything.
- Do not hang anything directly over the crib.
- Store toys securely in cabinets.
- Ensure the space around the crib is secure to prevent potential fall.
- Place thick rugs or carpets to cushion falls.
- Install cordless window coverings to prevent the risk of accidental entanglement.
Babyproofing the living room
The living room is a busy space where all family members gather and interact. Babyproofing the living room helps provide a secure environment for your child.
- Create a secure play area in the living room for your child.
- Falls and collisions with furniture are quite common. So, make sure to install corner guards or edge bumpers to cushion sharp edges on coffee tables, end tables, and other furniture items.
- Anchor the furniture items, such as TV units, sofas, showcases, bookshelves, couches, etc., to the wall.
- Secure the cords and cables for electronic items such as TVs, lamps, gaming consoles, etc. and keep them out of reach of children.
- Look for furniture with rounded edges and sturdy construction to reduce the risk of injuries.
- Install door stoppers or door guards to prevent fingers from getting pinched in doors.
- Secure area rugs to the floor using non-slip pads or double-sided tape to prevent tripping.
- Go for sturdy outlet covers that are difficult to remove.
- Install a fireplace guard or screen to prevent burns.
- Ensure the curtains or blind cords are inaccessible from furniture or climbing areas.
- Lock cabinets or drawers, especially if they have items such as DVDs, remote controls, coins, batteries, or other small objects that could pose choking hazards.
- Choose non-toxic houseplants, and keep them out of reach of children.
Babyproofing the bedroom
While babyproofing the bedroom, ensure that it is cosy for your child.
- Anchor heavy furniture, such as dressers, bookcases, and TV units to the wall to prevent tipping.
- Choose furniture straps or brackets for secure attachment.
- Install covers or safety plugs on electrical outlets to prevent children from inserting objects into outlets.
- Secure the cords for lamps, electronics, and window treatments. Keep them out of children’s reach.
- Choose cordless blinds or cord cleats to secure window blind cords.
- Go for corner guards or edge bumpers to cover sharp edges on bedside tables, dressers, etc.
- Go for safety latches or locks on drawers and cabinets, if you have kept items, such as jewellery, medications, or personal items.
- Install bed rails to prevent the child from rolling off the bed during sleep.
- Place doorknob covers or locks to prevent children from opening doors and wandering unsupervised.
- Install window locks or guards windows to prevent the child from climbing through when the window is open.
Babyproofing the bathroom
- To prevent accidental slips and falls, place non-slip mats in bathtubs and under showers.
- Set the water heater to a maximum temperature of 48.9°C to prevent scalding. Make sure to test the water temperature before placing the child in the bathtub or sink.
- Fix toilet locks, which prevent children from opening the toilet lid and accessing water.
- Install safety latches or locks on cabinets and drawers if they contain items, such as cleaning supplies, medications, razors, medicines, toiletries, etc.
- Go for a safety gate at the entrance to prevent unsupervised access.
- Install bath accessories, such as spout covers and faucet extenders.
- Store electrical appliances, such as hairdryers, straighteners, etc., away from the reach of children.
- Go for covers or safety plugs for electrical outlets to prevent children from inserting objects.
- Store bath products, such as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash securely.
- Place small objects, such as cotton balls, Q-tips, and bathroom accessories on a higher shelf.
Babyproofing the kitchen
- Keep cleaning products, detergents, chemicals, etc., in secure places, and lock cabinets, or place them on a high shelf.
- Choose covers or safety plugs for electrical outlets. Be cautious with outlets near appliances, such as microwaves or dishwashers.
- Go for safety latches, or locks on cabinets and drawers if they have cleaning supplies, sharp objects or hazardous items.
- Go for stove knob covers to prevent children from turning the stove on.
- Always keep small appliances, such as toasters, blenders, etc., unplugged and out of reach of children.
- Do not place tablecloths that children can pull on, which may result in hot food or beverages spilling.
- Install locks for appliances, such as ovens and refrigerators to prevent children from opening them.
- Secure small objects, such as magnets, bottle caps, and plastic bags to prevent choking hazards.
- Cover the trashcan with a childproof lid or place the trash can in a locked cabinet.
- Place backburners while cooking and turn pot handles inward to prevent children from pulling them.
Babyproofing doors and balcony
- Educate children about dangers associated with doors and balconies.
- Place doorknob covers that are difficult for children to operate.
- Secure balcony with railings that are designed to prevent a child from slipping through.
- Place door guards to prevent a child’s fingers from getting pinched and prevent doors from slamming shut.
- Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and in doorways to prevent access to hazardous areas.
- Keep a watch on children if they are in balcony to prevent falls or accidents.
- Install locks on sliding doors to prevent children from opening them and accessing the balcony.
- Remove any objects near the door or balconies that could be used as a step stool for climbing such as chairs, tables, and planters.
Tips for babyproofing house
- Make sure you have a well-stocked first-aid kit at home.
- Start babyproofing the house before a baby starts crawling or walking.
- It is important to be aware of the potential hazards and babyproofing techniques.
- Supervise your child, especially in areas having potential hazards.
- Make sure to inspect each room of a house for any small items that could be a choking risk.
- Secure heavy furniture to prevent tipping by choosing furniture straps or brackets for secure attachment. Place edge bumpers to cushion sharp edges.
- Securely install gates that cannot be easily dislodged.
- Install safety gates at top and bottom of the staircase to prevent potential hazards.
Housing.com News Viewpoint
Babyproofing the house is not just limited to redesigning the interiors to create a secure space for your child. It could also mean being observant and keeping a constant watch over the children while educating them about safety and risks. As your child grows, you have to relook at the strategies of babyproofing the house.
FAQs
Why should you baby proof your house?
Babyproofing the house is necessary to prevent risks of falling or getting injuries, creating a safe space for growing children.
At what age should you babyproof the house?
Babyproofing should be done once your child starts crawling.
How to secure TV from the baby?
It is advisable to wall mount your TV unit to prevent tripping or causing any accidents even if the baby attempts to touch the system.
How to cover the corners of furniture?
Choose corner bumps or guards to cushion the furniture corners.
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