How to Baby Proof your HomeA step by step guide...

How to Baby-Proof your homeSafety is an important consideration for all parents and sadly

large numbers of children are injured in the home every single year.

The good news is that there are measures you can take to help to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries and this process should start when your baby becomes mobile.

Here are some tips for you to follow...

Baby Proofing - StairsStairs are an attractive proposition for a crawling baby and it seems few can resist the challenge of climbing up them.

Whilst this is all part of learning, stairs represent a real danger to an unaccompanied crawling baby or toddler and you should seek to fit safety gates as soon as your baby becomes mobile.

Look to install safety gates at both the top and bottom of your stairs; Lindam recommend fitting screw fix gates at the top of the stairs because they offer additional strength and safety, whilst also not having a bottom support rail which can present a trip hazard.

Baby Proofing - DoorwaysWhilst you will want to offer your baby the freedom to crawl and explore there are certain rooms that should be off-limits including the kitchen and bathroom.

To keep your baby out of these rooms you should again consider fitting safety gates. Pressure fit gates are a popular choice for doorways as they require no drilling (therefore leaving no marks in or on the doorframe).

Baby Proofing - KitchenThere are lots of hazards in the kitchen; many which are obvious and some which are less so. Keep your baby / toddler away from the oven and teach them that this area is hot. When possible always use the back rings of the hob and never allow your pan handles to point out over the floor- they are really attractive to children who may try to reach up and grab them.

Cupboards containing hazardous products such as bleach and other cleaning fluids should have a cupboard safety latch installed on them so that little fingers cannot gain easy access. Always remember to close cupboard doors behind you and where possible store these hazardous materials in high cupboards and ensure you lock the caps in the closed position.

Baby Proofing - BathroomDid you know that children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water? With this in mind never leave your baby/toddler unsupervised in the bathroom when you are running a bath. The bathroom is home to many poisonous materials and liquids (again, think bleach, cleaning fluids, shampoo etc) so keep everything in a locked cupboard (install cupboard latches if your cupboard does not have a lock) and ideally high up and out of reach.

The toilet is another great attraction to a child and many parents will admit to having found toys, valuables, pencils etc in the toilet at some point in their child’s life. You can prevent the risk of this happening in your home by fitting a toilet lid lock.

Baby Proofing – Bath Water

Always check the temperature of the bath before placing your baby / toddler into the water using a thermometer. A baby can scald in just 3 seconds when placed in water with a temperature of 60 degrees C. Run the cold water first, then top the bath up with hot.

An alternative to a hot water thermometer could be the Munchkin White Hot Safety Duck, which displays the word HOT when the water temperature exceeds 40 degrees c.

Baby Proofing – Living RoomWhilst your living room may be the hub of your home it can also be a room with lots of hidden dangers!

Have a look at your coffee table? Does it have sharp corner edges that are at the perfect height to hurt your child’s eyes, face or body if he were to fall? One option would be to remove the table from the room altogether, but if this is not possible you should consider fitting corner safety cushions to each corner.

Bookcases and display cabinets are another potential problem area, as toddlers love to explore what’s on their shelves. Is your bookshelf or cabinet secure, or could it be pulled over by your child, posing a topple risk?

Baby Proofing - Fireplace

The fireplace is an obvious danger area, so much like with the oven do not allow your child to get close to the fire. Teach them that this area is “HOT” and install a Fire Guard as soon as your baby starts to move around (or before).

Baby Proofing – Wires and Cables

Wires and plug sockets are another big hazard in the living room. Make sure all wires are neat and tidy (avoiding the risk of trips and falls) and use socket covers on all empty plug sockets so your child cannot push anything inside.

Baby Proofing – Nursery / Bedroom

Once your child moves into his/her own room you may want to offer them the freedom to play and explore.

Make the bedroom a safe haven and consider fitting another safety gate over the bedroom door so they cannot crawl or walk into another room unsupervised. This becomes more important at night as you may be asleep when they wake and try to leave their room.

Listen out for unexpected (or expected) disturbances during the night using an audio baby monitor. If your little one is awake you need to be aware!

Baby Proofing – Nursery / Bedroom

The transition from cot to bed is a big milestone in your child's life, but it can also be a stressful time. Leave it too late and you may discover your child trying to climb out of the cot, which poses a big fall risk. Do it too early and your child may repeatedly fall out of bed.

When you do make the change consider fitting bed rails to the side of the bed. These help to prevent your child rolling out of the bed when they are asleep.

Blind cords pose a real risk to children, who can easily become entangled in the cord if they are allowed to sit or climb onto a window sill.

Learn more about blind cord safety in this video, which has been produced by ROSPA:

Baby Proofing – Blind Cords

Baby Proofing - General

A great tip that we like to share with all parents who are baby proofing is to get down onto their hands and knees and see the world from the eyes of their children.

It is amazing how many potential hazards you can spot when doing this!

Remember though that baby proofing your home will never make it 100% risk free; close supervision at all times is always paramount.

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