| Baby Proofing is essentially a mission in thinking like a | | | | - Cords and plastic - make sure cords are short and |
| toddler and removing anything from your home that | | | | out of reach. Keep plastic bags and tubs in a locked |
| could be dangerous to your little one - or at least | | | | cabinet - up and away from baby. |
| have it put up high enough or behind locked doors so | | | | - Antiques - Old furniture can be painted with lead |
| they can't reach it. The first step is to get down on | | | | paint and have rusty nails sticking out that you may |
| your hands and knees and crawl around the house. | | | | not notice. Carefully look at each piece for dangers. |
| What's down there at toddler level? | | | | - Things you don't think of - shampoo, mouthwash, |
| It helps to think of things in major categories: | | | | fingernail polish and remover, perfume, make up - all |
| - Outlets - There are plastic plugs you can put into | | | | need to be put up and away from baby. Medicine |
| empty outlets to prevent shocks. It's best if you can | | | | needs to be kept up - even if they have childproof |
| have a piece of furniture in front of any outlets | | | | lids. |
| you're using. | | | | - Prevention - Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide |
| - Cleaners - Try to use natural products if you can | | | | detectors and fire extinguishers - as well as an |
| but even in this event, keep them up high. Just make | | | | escape plan are essentials. Catches on windows so |
| sure they're sealed well so you don't dump product in | | | | they can't be opened enough for baby to fall out. |
| your eyes when pulling them down. | | | | Screens are weak and cannot support the weight of |
| - Small stuff - Babies put everything in their mouths. | | | | a baby. |
| If the item can fit into a toilet paper tube, it's small | | | | - Foods - assume your toddler is going to chew on |
| enough that your child could choke on. This is one of | | | | everything around the house EXCEPT for food. |
| those things where you'll need to crawl around your | | | | Often they swallow what you give them whole. |
| house on a regular basis to see what you can find. | | | | Make sure that it can be eaten safely without |
| - Stairs and landings - Make sure you have gates up | | | | chewing. |
| that are strong and stable. Toddlers will push on | | | | This isn't a comprehensive list, but it's a good start. |
| them. Make sure landings have secure boundaries so | | | | You might want to check out The Consumer |
| baby can't climb them or get through them. " | | | | Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety: Tips to |
| Drawers and cabinets - Make sure there's nothing | | | | Protect your Baby and Child from Injury at Home |
| inside that can hurt baby because eventually they do | | | | and on the Go by Jamie Schaefer-Wilson. |
| get in! The goal here is to prevent pinching. There are | | | | Beyond that, you may want to consider changing |
| a number of choices in securing your drawers so that | | | | some of your ways. At our house we use baking |
| you can get in and baby can't. | | | | soda, vinegar or lemon juice for nearly all of our |
| - Hot surfaces - Stoves and other hot surfaces | | | | cleaning needs. I thought it would be a compromise, |
| should be secured with a gate, fence or guard. Stove | | | | but it honestly works better than a lot of the |
| guards are available so little ones can't reach the | | | | expensive, toxic stuff. It's still important to keep |
| burners. Wood burning stoves need a gate around | | | | these products up, but they're much less toxic than |
| them tall enough that baby can't get in and get | | | | many other cleaners (and MUCH cheaper!). |
| burned. | | | | Remember too, to take a look at your own habits. |
| - Sharp things and edges - Keep knives, razors and | | | | Smoking is bad for you but it can cause huge |
| scissors locked up and out of baby's reach. | | | | problems for your baby as well. There have been |
| - Water hazards - You might think about covering | | | | studies that show smoking can lead to ear infections, |
| your pool and hot tub (with a hard cover, not just | | | | asthma and other problems. If you have guns, keep |
| plastic) but what about your toilet? Make sure you | | | | them empty and locked up. |
| don't have buckets of liquid around, that you soak | | | | Check everything, too, to make sure that everything |
| things in the washer instead of a large, low sink and | | | | is up to current safety standards. It's great to get a |
| that the toilet lid is secured. Also make sure that | | | | second-hand crib or swing but check the recall lists |
| your water heater is turned down and always check | | | | and make sure that the freebie is safe for your little |
| the temperature before bathing baby. | | | | one. |