The New Arrival: Tips For Baby-Proofing Your Home

Are you expecting a new baby or going through the last few weeks of your pregnancy? If this is your first child, you’re probably going through a whirlwind of emotions! Fortunately, baby- proofing your home is not as difficult as many parents imagine. Here are a few practical, simple ways to baby-proof your home in time for the new arrival.

Invest in a baby gate
Children go everywhere, and there is no way to tell them to avoid particular areas. By using a mini gate however, you can keep certain areas secure. When installing safety gates, think about fitting them across entrances in the home that you don’t want your child to go to, for instance the top of stairs or doorways.

Remove or cover sharp edges
Once your little one starts crawling around you’d want to keep away furniture or other features that have sharp edges.
Covering sharp edges with thick tablecloths, soft blankets and pillows is a feasible option. Alternatively, you can also buy corner guards/furniture edge guards while your baby masters the concept of walking.

Extra Caution in the Kitchen
One of the most common injuries for toddlers is burns – Purchase knob covers to ensure your child doesn’t get access to turning on the stove and install a latch on your oven door. Put all sharp objects in unreachable areas.

Have Suitable Flooring
Some choose to carpet their baby nursery, however wood flooring such as laminate is good to have in the living area. These floors are easy to clean spills and less likely to attract dust which may cause allergies. Be it carpet or wood, ensure that it’s safe for your child to crawl on.

Remove Decorative Items
It’s time to declutter and embrace minimalist design trends! Those brittle items that could potentially fall should be removed and aesthetically-pleasing elements should be replaced with rugged designs. If you have been planning on renovating parts of your home, it might be best to do so before your baby arrives.

The entire process of baby-proofing is time consuming, but it surely helps reduce the possibility of injuries!