When you're preparing to have a baby, one of the tasks you may want to tackle is baby proofing the house. Though the baby won't be mobile for several months, you may not have as much time and energy to devote to the job when you have your hands full with a child. The main goal of baby proofing a home is to make any potentially dangerous areas of the house a bit safer, especially as baby begins to explore his surroundings. On top of these general guidelines, your pediatrician will likely have some age-specific suggestions for you as your child grows.
Step 1
Move all hazardous materials, such as cleaning supplies, alcoholic beverages and medications, from low cabinets that the baby could potentially reach. Install cabinet locks on all cupboards and drawers to keep her from opening the doors.
Step 2
Insert outlet covers into all of the electrical outlet openings in the house.
Step 3
Replace all spring-loaded doorstops that have plastic or rubber caps on the ends with one-piece plastic designs. Babies can choke on the tips of these old-style doorstops.
Step 4
Purchase enough safety gates to place one at the top and bottom of each set of stairs in the house. If they're hardware-mounted, you may want to go ahead and install them.
Step 5
Install plastic bumpers on sharp corners that the baby can bump into, such as those found on coffee tables.
Step 6
Place screens around fireplaces, portable space heaters and radiators.
Step 7
Adjust the temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the water won't get hot enough to seriously burn your baby's delicate skin.
Step 8
Install ground fault interrupters in bathrooms and the kitchen. These keep electrical outlets from transmitting electricity if they get wet.
Step 9
Tuck up and secure cords connected to appliances, such as lamps. Replace your mini-blinds with a cordless variety, as the adjusting cords in mainstream types can choke babies.
Things You'll Need
- Cabinet locks
- Outlet covers
- One-piece doorstops
- Safety gates
- Plastic bumpers
- Screens
- Ground fault interrupters
- Cordless mini-blinds
References
- "Pregnancy Guide: An Illustrated Handbook for Every Trimester"; Brenda Lane and Ilana T. Kirsch; 2009
- Parenthood.com: How to Baby-Proof Your Home for Those First 12 Months
