Learning to crawl is a major milestone for an infant and their parents. However, once a baby begins to become mobile, it is time to begin to take a look around the house for objects and furniture that may be dangerous. For new parents, it can sometimes be hard to know how to prevent an accident before it happens. For this reason, the following guide to baby-proofing has been prepared to help parents to protect their growing baby as they enter this new stage of development:
Get on the Floor One of the best things a parent can do when baby-proofing the house is to get down on the floor, and look over each room from the baby’s point of view. Remember that babies often focus on the smallest details. Therefore, a tiny button in the corner could pose a choking hazard. Be sure to vacuum regularly, and always look over the floor before putting baby down to play.
Pad the Edges Furniture, bathroom fixtures and fireplaces often have sharp edges that can cut a baby if they should fall. Because pulling up on furniture follows shortly after crawling, it is a good idea to go ahead and install padding on corners and sharp edges.
Tie Up Cords Sometimes, it seems as if there is no end to the electronic devices that can be found in a home. However, dangling cords can appear to be an attractive play toy to children. When possible, parents should make sure to tie up or hide electronic cords behind furniture in order to prevent children playing with electrical appliances or pulling one down off of a shelf. Additionally, outlets should be plugged, and cords dangling from mini-blinds should be tied up as well.
Always be Vigilant Even with the best of precautions, a baby should never be left alone in a room without supervision. However, there are times when a parent may need to be away such as the evening when baby is sleeping. Fortunately, parents have a handy tool to use in their baby-proofing strategy. Audio and video footage of their baby can be viewed from a distance by using ShopTronics.com baby monitors in order to have peace of mind during baby’s naps and bedtimes.
In every home, there are areas that will need to be tended to in order to baby-proof the house. Keeping chemicals in locked cabinets, padding sharp furniture and creating a safe floor space for a baby are all important ways to ensure that they will be safe while they are learning to crawl.
This is a really timely post for me. I need to start baby proofing, but I had no idea where to start. Thank you very much 🙂
I was babysitting my neighbor’s 1 year old this past weekend and I think I needed to do all of the above! You forget the importance of baby-proofing once your babies are all grown up! Great information.