Baby Proofing | Creating A Safe Environment For Your Baby; As your babies grow older every day they begin to develop certain habits, and they become faster by the day. They begin to want to explore the whole house. Eating anything they get their hands on, moreover smashing and rearranging their way to their next stop. Hence the need for baby proofing.
In order to avoid accidents evolving in your house, baby proofing is needed. Either for you, for your baby or for anybody and other things in your house. You need to get your home baby proofed. As it is the best way to avoid preventable accidents.
It is advisable to baby proof your home just before your baby starts to crawl. As this is the stage when your baby begins to notoriously explore the house.
Best areas for baby proofing in your house.
Baby crib
Make sure your baby’s crib is tightly fitted. And has a comfortable base. Spread a pair of tightly tucked in sheets, with one blanket.
Avoid putting stuffed toys or any other types. Keep the crib toy free to avoid suffocating the baby. Pillows are not advisable for you to be using at this stage. Just have tightly fitted toys hanging over the crib far away from your baby’s reach.
Baby proofing your bedroom
Since you are sharing the room with your little one. It is a must keep your bedroom tidy an clean at all times. Make sure you have no visible sockets or cables crossing around the room.
Have them placed out of the baby’s reach.
Install child locks on your cabinets and drawers. Get rid of all little items that a baby might put in the mouth and choke on.
Baby proofing your kitchen
Baby-proof all sharp and rough corners around the house .make sure all drawers are secure. Store spices and sharp utensils in upper drawers where your little one cannot reach. Again make sure that there are no visible cables and that saucepan handles are not in the way. As this could lead to accidents in the kitchen. Keep your flours super clean as your baby craws on the flour and even licks and eats from it. Cover all wall outlets with outlet covers to prevent babies from sticking in their fingers or other objects inside.
Windows and doors.
Keep your windows closed and make sure there no dangling cords from the window or curtain.
Avoid curtains that blow into your baby’s crib as he might think it’s a plaything and pull the curtain down. Which is dangerous to the baby.
As for your doors get professionals to baby proof the corners. And put child locks on them especially on the exterior doors. So that your baby does not crawl out into the streets alone.
House plants and decorations.
House plants can be very dangerous to the baby especially if eaten. It is wise to get rid of these totally or place them where your baby cannot reach .
In case your baby swallows any plant in your house. Be sure to call the US poison control centre on 1-800-222-1222. I once went through a traumatizing moment. When my baby swallowed, what we call the elephant flower. She crawled all the way out of the house and into the verandah. That’s is where we moved most of our plants. Then she ate the plant. I remember this was not an easy time for me. It was susch a traumatic experience for me. As I found him with his eyes rolling and having difficulties to breathe.
The first thing I did was to force my baby to drink a glass of fresh milk. On the other hand, calling the ambulance. By the time the paramedics arrived my baby had vomited some of the plants out and was super weak. Then they took him and treated him. So to all mothers out there. It is better to get rid of indoor plants and lock them in the garage. You can always move them indoors when your baby is fully grown.
This taught me to keep all emergency numbers in the open preferably on the refrigerator door. I now treat it as a matter of great importance. Numbers such as ambulance, poison control, Pediatrician, police, fire brigade and close family members.
Baby toys.
Shop for safe toys for your baby at this stage. As they are most likely to be left lying around everywhere in the house or even in the sofas. Get toys that are soft. Such that if you step on them they won’t break, prick or hurt you as well as the baby. Get toys that are big enough not to fit in the baby’s mouth. Toys that don’t break or tear easily when the baby attempts to chew on them. These will surely keep everyone safe.
