How to Childproof Your Home On a Budget

Pregnancy itself is that little bit of preparation for what’s about to come. The nine months you spend getting to know your little one growing inside of you is the first connection you have with that little person. This is when you actually become a mother – in these nine months of terrible morning sicknesses and blissfully painful kicks in the stomach, the time when your baby hears your voice and understands all of your feelings. But, no matter how special these nine months are, the real adventure begins once the baby is born. This is when you become responsible for nurturing your bundle of joy, raising him/her to become a good person, making sure they never lack anything, protect them from the evils of this world and make sure they are safe.

Speaking of safe, at the time when they just start crawling or making their first steps, they are most curious and want to touch and see everything. They tend to get hyperactive and you need to protect them from the hazards around the house. This is why you need to childproof your home and here’s how to do it:

Electrical Outlets

All electrical outlets around the house must be covered. Otherwise, your little curious baby is going to try and stick their finger or any other objects in an outlet. This is why you need to use protective coverings wherever there’s a potentially dangerous electrical outlet.

Chemicals

Each household has plenty of chemicals used for cleaning of the house. With grownups, it’s not really a problem having them lie around but when it comes to kids, they can be potentially deadly. All chemicals you have around the house should be placed in one or two top cabinets or shelves so they are out of a child’s reach. If you want to be even more safe, place shelve and cabinet locks or purchase child-proof caps for the chemicals.

Medicine

All medicine must be stored away and be far from a child’s reach. No matter whether it’s children’s medication or adult medication, no being aware how dangerous medicine can be, a child can easily overdose on either of the two. The only exception is when a child has a medical condition which requires him/her to have the medicine with them all the time or at their immediate reach, in case of emergencies. Other than that, make sure the bottles have child-proof caps.

Safety Gates

Safety gates are pretty much an essential part of any childproof equipment. Before purchasing, check if they are up-to-date with current safety standards. Use them at doorways that lead to attics, basements, stairs, pantry and storage rooms (there are plenty of chemicals here and other stuff a child shouldn’t be around) and other places in your home that could be unsafe for your children.

Keep Breakable Items Out of Reach

Any breakable objects like ceramics, glass, etc. must be kept out of a child’s reach. It’s not just about your baby breaking something valuable but hurting herself while doing it. Move all breakable items in cabinets or on top shelves, just to be sure.

Corners

Corners and edges of furniture can be a real hazard for even grownups let alone a baby. Cover corners and edges of furniture with foam to protect your child and prevent any injuries. We advise not to remove these all while your child is conscious enough to realize the danger of sharp edges. While they are learning to walk, they can get hurt easily, so keep to foam on.

Bathroom

Keeping proper hygiene in your bathroom is an absolute must, especially with a child around. Make sure all blocked drains are unclogged; all bathroom chemicals should be washed away well after they’ve been used for cleaning, etc. Apart from the hygiene, there are some hazards you need to be mindful of.

Children are more top-heavy than adults and when they lean, actually falling into a toilet can happen easily. Kids can drown in just one inch of water. So, install toilet locks to keep toilet lids closed. Unplug hair dryers and electric rollers after use and store them in bathroom cabinets or anywhere out of a child’s reach to prevent electrocution from contact with water in the bathroom. Use outlet protectors or safety caps to cover unused electrical outlets.

Having a baby is definitely one of the most (if not the most) amazing feelings in our lives and it seems like there is nothing as fulfilling as making sure your baby is well and looking her grow into a wonderful human being.

Photo Credit: Flickr via Creative Commons