Baby proofing | How To Baby Proof Your Home | FREE Help & Advice

Baby Proofing Your House

Expecting a new baby is an exciting, but nerve-racking time, amidst preparing for the new member of your family you will also need to consider their safety and whether or not your house is age-appropriate. Before the arrival of a new family member it is a good idea to think critically about your property and what potential hazards could be lurking within, crawling at baby level can help you discover what is within a baby’s reach and there are other things you should do in preparation to reduce the risk of choking, shock, ingestion of dangerous chemicals and other injuries.

How can I prevent burns?

Firstly turn your thermastat down to make sure that the hot water from the tap and the touch of the radiator won’t burn a curious toddler. Fireplaces are obviously a hazard so make sure that you fit screened barriers around fireplaces and portable heaters. The oven is a hazard for a crawling baby, invest in covers for the stove and when cooking always turn the handles towards the back of the cooker.

How can I remove choking hazards from my home?

Reducing the risk of choking is about removing all possible choking hazards from a baby’s reach, of course you can’t remove all small items from the house, but you can make sure that they are put away safely in locked cupboards and drawers. Remove magnets from the front of your fridge and the plastic caps on doorstops as these are also choking hazards that you might forget about. Always make sure that you put plastic bags and plastic wrapping straight in the bin as these could cause suffocation.

How can I babyproof my kitchen?

The kitchen has a host of potentially hazardous material: cleaning chemicals that a baby could easily ingest and dangerous glassware and crockery. Put the most dangerous of items out of a child’s reach and never keep chemicals under the sink. The bin should also be kept out of reach in a cupboard that can be closed and locked. You should then secure all cupboard doors with childproof locks. If there are any cabinets that can’t be locked use them for items that would be safe for a child to play with for example plastic containers.

How can I reduce the risk of electric shock?

Electrical safety is important at all times, and even more so when there is a baby in the house. Make sure that any electrical work done on your property is carried out by a professional, don’t feed too many plugs through one socket and make sure any unused sockets are covered with a child-resistant cover.

How can I protect my baby from bumps and falls around the house?

When your baby starts to crawl and walk they can get themselves into a lot more trouble, and this could involve nasty bumps and falls. Firstly it is important to use safety gates at the top and bottom of your stairs. You can also look around the house for any sharp edges that a toddler could fall and hit, these can then be covered up with foam, blankets or pillows. Babies have a tendency to grab whatever is in their reach so make sure that wires and cables are tucked away to prevent a baby from pulling down items and appliances on top of themselves, you should also ensure that all shelving and wall units are secure as a curious infant could reach up and pull down an entire unit.

Keeping a baby out of trouble is a full-time job, but baby proofing your home needn’t be expensive and it can give you at least some peace of mind. Think creatively when looking at your home for potential hazards, make sure that all dangerous items are well out of reach and don’t cut corners; invest in good quality childproofing for your cabinets and drawers.