Baby Safety! Preparing For Your Little One
My wife and I are expecting our first baby(!). As the due date looms closer, I’m getting nervous… is everything ready? Is the crib set up? What do I do about the steep stairs? Our always safe home has suddenly become very dangerous to us. So what are we doing?
Through The Eyes Of A Baby
The first step we’ve taken is to look at our home through a baby's eyes. Household items that once seemed harmless now pose potential risks. We began by looking around us. Bookcases that could fall over are getting attached, tripping hazards are being adjusted to be out of the way of little feet, loose items that could fall on a small head are being secured or removed. Babies are naturally curious (what we’ve heard!); they will pull, climb, and explore every inch their hands can reach. So if we can reach it from the ground, we’re making sure it’s safe.
The Great Cover-Up
Electrical outlets are like magnets for little fingers. A super easy way of child-proofing our outlets is by grabbing a couple packs of simple outlet covers. We don’t want our little explorer to have any restrictions on traveling through our home when the crawling time comes. At the same time, we’re looking out for hard corners on our furniture that could be dangerous in a fall. For a small investment in corner protectors we can soften edges and prevent some excess bumps and bruises as our baby begins to move around.
Chemical Hide-&-DON’T-Seek
Cleaning supplies, though everyday to us, are dangerous to small hands and small mouths. Something we did was make sure all our cleaning chemicals were as natural as possible, in case of accidental swallowing, and put everything in one area. For us, putting everything under our kitchen sink made the most sense for easy access. Making sure one set of doors are perfectly child-proof is easier than worrying about a dozen different spots around your home. Don’t forget to check the bathroom, laundry room, and even entryway.
Soften The Fall
Falls are inevitable in your baby’s future. Rugs and soft floor coverings not only add warmth to your home but also provide a soft landing for these falls when they happen. Tile and hardwood floors can be a bit abrasive to a baby’s bum. Ensuring your home is well-padded can give your little one the freedom to explore safely.
Protect Yourself
Baby safety goes beyond preparing your home for just your baby. As we are getting ready to welcome our newest addition, we can’t forget our own safety when it comes to the unrealized dangers of baby protection around our home. Some methods of baby-proofing can be dangerous to us if we aren’t careful! The next article we’ll be taking a look at this very important and often forgotten aspect of preparing your home for your long-expected baby.
