Everything You Need For Successful Baby Proofing

As a new parent, baby-proofing your house might seem like a daunting task. Here’s the good news, it’s not so bad!

If you prepare yourself with the tools you need to make your home safe for your new addition, the task of baby proofing becomes simple. Let’s start with some common questions first-time parents might have.

Why baby proof?

Baby proofing your house is essential because it keeps your baby safe from accidents. Even if you are with your baby every minute of the day, accidents can happen very quickly!

In addition to baby proofing, it’s also important to teach your baby what’s off-limits from an early age. Establishing these guidelines will help tremendously as your baby starts to become more mobile. Plus, establishing boundaries plays a crucial part in teaching your child discipline.

A great example of an off-limits household item is cords and outlets. Cords are an item that isn’t so easily hidden, and that’s why it’s crucial to teach your child not to grab them early on.

When should you stock up on baby proofing items?

The best time to invest in baby proofing items is while you’re pregnant! By stocking up ahead of time, you will have everything you need, when you need it.

Also, when you’re prepared, there won’t be a time when you have to run out to the store to buy cabinet locks because your baby won’t stop opening the bathroom cabinets. Or you won’t have to wait a couple of days for that baby gate to arrive from Amazon. (Totally not what happened to me 😉 )

When should you baby proof?

When you want to baby proof is entirely up to you! If you’re going to be ahead of the game, you can go ahead and baby proof your house while you’re still pregnant.

If you decide to go this route, keep in mind that there may be things that come up that you didn’t realize you needed to baby proof. For example, I didn’t think about my baby pulling on my keyboard piano, which isn’t the sturdiest thing.

Another popular option is to begin baby proofing once your baby starts to scoot or crawl around.

This is what we did, and I liked it because it gives you a chance to look at your rooms from your baby’s perspective and take care of things as needed.

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So, what are the essential baby proofing items?

1. Cabinet/Cupboard And Drawer Locks

When it comes to cabinets and drawers, you will want to lock anything that has dangerous items like cleaning products or anything that you wouldn’t want to be pulled out onto the floor.

These locks are the best that I have found because they are versatile and don’t require hardware! Not only do we use these on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, but also our TV stand doors and nightstand drawers!

2. Outlet Covers

Kids are drawn to cords and outlets. I don’t know why cords and outlets are so appealing, but they are! These outlet covers fit snugly, so they aren’t easy to pull out, and they are pretty budget-friendly!

3. Toilet Locks

In addition to cords and outlets being things that will be interesting to your kiddo, toilets will make that list also. Once my son was starting to walk, opening the toilet lid was the first thing he did once he was in the bathroom!

These toilet locks are what we have used for months now, and they do an excellent job! I was concerned about them falling off since they are attached with a 3M adhesive, but they haven’t budged!

4. Baby Gates

Baby gates are an absolute must! Whether it’s to keep your baby out of individual rooms or to protect them from the stairs, I can assure you they will get a ton of use!

We have two different gates, and I highly recommend both of them! The first gate that we got was one for the top of our staircase. If you have stairs in your house, you don’t want just any gate.

When placing a baby gate at the top of the stairs, you will need one attached to the wall. Your baby will most likely try to push the gate, and you don’t want it slipping!

Another thing to look for in a gate is that it doesn’t have a bar running across the bottom of the floor as that can trip you. Also, make sure that the gate doesn’t swing out over the stairs when opened. If your baby pushes the gate as I mentioned above and it wasn’t closed properly, it won’t move.

The other gate we have is this compression gate. A compression gate is excellent for moving room to room or putting it at the bottom of stairs.

5. Bath Spout Cover

Once your baby starts having more fun at bathtime, they may hit their head on the water spout! This spout cover is a sturdy plastic that helps cushion any bonks that might happen.

6. Corner Covers

Sharp corners can be hazardous if your baby hits one when they trip. These corner covers offer a lot of padding and make the corner not as hard.

We use these covers and have used them on our trim and furniture. You can choose from multiple colors; they stick on very well and have even saved my shins a time or two.

7. Crib Railing Covers

Until this problem arose, I had no idea crib railing covers even existed! Crib railing covers are exactly how they sound; they are padded material that ties onto the crib’s top railing.

The purpose of crib railing covers is to protect your baby from chewing off either paint chips or the crib’s wood. They also help protect the crib from getting damaged.

I use these ones, and if I had known about them ahead of time, I would have put them on once my baby started teething. That way, once he began standing, his crib would have been ready.

You’ll also love: How To Stop Your Baby From Chewing on the Crib

8. Furniture Straps

When it comes to furniture, you might think that a lot of your furniture is too heavy to fall over. But it’s not worth the risk! You will want to secure furniture like dressers, entertainment centers, and bookshelves.

Also, a lot of furniture comes with furniture straps! If you are like me and put all of your extra furniture hardware away in a bin, it’s a great idea to look through those things and see if you already have some!

9. TV Straps

If you have a flat-screen TV, as most people do these days, you will want to use these straps to make sure the TV can’t topple over. They are pretty quick and easy to install and are a great choice if your TV isn’t wall-mounted.

10. Door Knob Covers

Once your kiddo is tall enough to reach the doorknob, they will want to play with it. These doorknob covers will prevent them from turning the knob.

11. Tie Up Blind Cords

Blind cords are just like electronic cords; your child will want to mess with them! These blind cord ties install easily and will keep them out of reach.

Baby Proofing Tips:

Check Water Heater Temperature

Before I had my baby, I had no idea what the water heater temperature should be! You will want to make sure that your water heater is not set above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

When it comes to bath time, you will still want to check the bathwater temperature, but adjusting your water heater will help prevent any scalding baths. We use this duck to help check the bath temperature, and it’s excellent!

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors On Each Floor

Installing carbon monoxide detectors is a must-do even before you have a baby! You will want one on each floor of your house, and you will want to make sure they aren’t installed near the ground.

Looking at this list of baby proofing essentials might be overwhelming! Don’t let it scare you! When you take it one room at a time, it will be done in no time.

Before you go, check out these related articles:

• Fun And Easy Activities For 6-Month-Olds
• Simple Activities For 12-Month-Olds
• Do I Need a Baby Monitor? The Ultimate Guide
• Crucial Tips for Going Shopping With Your Baby
• How To Keep Baby (Safely) Warm in a Car Seat

Are there any baby-proofing essentials that you love? I would love to know in the comments below!

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