Make Your Home Baby-Friendly

You may not have kids right now, but chances are you may be entertaining guests one day who do. Below are some sound strategies to make your guest’s visit low-stress and safe by baby proofing your home. These are great ways to put your guests at ease and do your best to protect their little ones from harm by investing in some modest pre-visit baby proofing.

Mind the Power and Appliances

Outlets are enemy #1. Baby fingers are like magnets for electricity, so splurge on some plastic outlet covers which fit snugly into those empty sockets. If you have any multi-socket power strips around, be sure to cover those as well (or elevate them out of harm’s reach). Depending on your youngest visitors’ age, some may be able to reach knobs and buttons on appliances like your stove. Exploring hands can accidentally turn on the gas, so if you think your kitchen will be vulnerable, invest around $10 on stove knob covers.

Make Some Rooms Off-Limits

It may not be practical to baby proof every inch of your house, making certain zones baby-free by using gates. Sturdy, simple, pressure-mounted gates will protect specific passages and prevent you from making any permanent holes in your wall. Alternately, use doorknob covers to make even unlocked rooms less likely to be prone to an infant invasion.

Fight Falling Objects

Babies are all about testing gravity, and as they try to bring themselves upright, they’re liable to tug on anything within arm’s reach. Items that can fall on a child include entertainment centers, bookshelf, floor lamps, or other furniture. Are there any precarious pieces that might tumble down and seriously injure a child? Consider items on top of shelves (like decorative glassware), which can fall if shook, even it is modest force.

Curtail the Cords

Power cords and curtain (or blind) cords can cause falls, entanglement, or even strangulation. Tie these up out of the way or too high for a baby to reach from the floor.

Get Down and Look Around

A baby will put anything in its mouth. That will include choking hazards, dropped medications, or stray chemicals such as rat poison or cleaners. Shift your perspective to the floor and look for anything suspicious.

Looking at things from a child’s perspective is critical. If you have magnets on your refrigerator, move them up out of the child’s reach or take them off your fridge and tuck them away. Kids love sticking things in their moth; magnets could cause a choking hazard. Consider putting bumpers on sharp furniture edges, as toddlers are still figuring out balance and will stumble easier. In the bathroom, install toilet locks to keep the toilet lid closed so that there is no chance for kids to fall headfirst in when they are curious.

Some homes are more kid-friendly than others. If you’re looking for a perfect home for little ones, I can help you find one today!