Help Required!

Or....you could just watch him.

:)

Google 'child safety' and a plethora of websites can guide you to what you need.

R.,

Welcome to mamapedia!!

Ahhh...the change from playing on the floor and no threat of danger to the baby now up and on the go!!!

One of the things about child safety that drive me insane is - not everyone will have the same "safety" in their home as you do in yours...you cannot expect people to pick up their things off coffee tables, end tables, etc. for your child...so you need to teach your child what they can and cannot touch...I've told my kids they could look but not touch...

As to what you NEED in your house? You NEED to watch your child. What do you WANT??

You will most likely want baby gates at the top of stairs or places that you do NOT want your child to go...believe me - they move FAST!!! Now keep in mind...your son might be like my daughter was 28 years ago and see gates as a challenge that must be conquered rather than something to keep her safe....

People will tell you to attach your book cases and other furniture to the wall to keep them from falling over on your child....this is great...until you go to someone else's house that does NOT have them affixed to the wall...so you need to teach your child what they can and cannot do....

First aid kit? Band aids, gauze, tape, neosporin, etc. you don't already have one in the house?? We have one in each bathroom, kitchen and garage...just because I have a 14 year old and 11 year old....who play hard...

Here's what the American Red Cross recommends.
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-...

I would STRONGLY suggest that you take CPR as well as first aid training...your local police and fire station may offer courses...if not...check your local community college....knowledge is power!!

The ladies have about covered it. I will add, put up any house plants you have on the floor or on a table. They eat the dirt.

Also, don't put a bandaid on a baby that little. It's a choking hazzard. Consider any ointment you put on his hands will go into his mouth.

Check out What to Expect the First Year, at the library. Or any other development book. While you are there, check out the Love and Logic series.

You have to watch him all the time.
The kitchen and bathroom are the most dangerous rooms in your house.
It only takes a ridiculously small amount of water to drown in.
Most Moms will put pots/pans/cans in low cupboards and glass/jars/cleaning supplies in high places where child can not reach/climb.
Get on his level on the floor and look around you.
What can be climbed? furniture? Opened drawers? step stools?
Keep him away from electric cords - they are not for chewing on - and get some safety plugs for electric plugs (you'd be surprised what they shove their fingers into).
Get pet food into places where baby can not get into it (but the pets can).
Secure the front/back/patio doors so child can not open them and wander out of the house.
Be careful of windows too - every summer you'll read about some baby/toddler who pushes through a screen and falls out.

Cabinet locks and electric plugs in my opinion are number one! After that put all breakables really high. Cover your fireplace with something if you have one. First aide... Colorful band aides, hydrogen peroxide, emergency contacts (dr, dentist, backup sitter), Tylenol, Motrin, and huggs. Those are really the biggies. :)

Most things have been cover. Your home is unique. You might want to have a friend with a toddler come over and tell you what she would change or baby proof.

I also got rid of glass table tops (especially if they are not tempered glass) when I had my first baby. So for awhile I did not have a coffee table or end table at all. I got used to it (less things to bump into).

You can make yourself crazy going through all the safety equipment out there. There is a 'bumper bonnet' which is a helmet for a baby. I thought we needed it, but my husband said that is ridiculous. I never got it. I watch my kids. I do not trust the gates at the stairs or kitchen. It is easy for them to get blankets/object and built a ladder to climb over when they are less than 2 years old. I did use gates, but never felt I could trust them. I end up taken it down when my older child would climb over the top. He knew the gate was not for him. It was at the top of the stairs and we had a grand opening to the floor below. It did not work for our house.

I am going to sound judgmentally, but anyone who has markers/coloring all over their house/furniture is not watching there child close enough. I recall 2 women (I do not look at them as a model parent) warning me about the baby smearing poo poo all over. I was told from another more experienced mom, not to worry, because if I watch my baby and tend to his needs, it will not happen. The experienced mom said to think about it. Those moms left the baby alone with a dirty diaper long enough for him/her to do that.

p.s. I have marker marks on my couch from a 3 year old, but no poo poo marks thankfully.

Of course you should buy safety equipment AND watch him like a hawk.

Do you have stairs? You will need baby gates. You will need straps for the heavy furniture (bookshelves, dressers, entertainment centers). You will need plugs for the electrical outlets. You will need to have your TV anchored if it's not high up on the wall. You may also want to get pads for the corners of coffee tables etc so that he won't bump his head when he pulls up on them.

I like to keep a first aid kit in my car for when we're at the park etc...Bandaids, wipes, ointment, gauze, tape, bee sting reliever.

Good luck!

Remove all chemicals, use babyproofing latches so he can't open cabinets or drawers. But very importantly -- I have to repeat what others said -- please, please tether furniture to the walls.

Every two weeks in the U.S., a child dies because a TV or piece of furniture falls over onto him or her.

Bookcases, dressers, cabinets and yes, the TV stand or table AND the TV itself all need to be tethered. Some parents say they "don't want to put holes in the wall" to tether items but that is so foolish and puts the walls ahead of their kids' safety. Kids are killed every year because they tip over furniture or TVs onto themselves.

Gates to close off stairs are the other huge essential. Never, ever use "pressure" gates on stairs - you need gates that mount directly into the wall. (A child can push hard enough on a pressure gate to pop it out of a doorway, which makes those gates wrong for stairs though OK for regular doorways.) You need gates at both the top and bottom of stairs.

Go to this site below for furniture tipover facts and help. If the link does not work go to www.cpsc.gov and search "tipover information center."

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-...

I was told to get on my hands and knees and look at your home from that level. If there's something that you see at that eye-level that could be harmful, fix and/or remove it. Plugs are of course a big hazard, and should have the safety covers. Things that hang down and can be pulled on top of your little mover should be fastened down or removed. As for a first-aid kit, you can purchase complete kits. Be sure to include ipecac syrup for poisoning but educate yourself about what to use it for and include the poison hot line number with the bottle.

Most importantly, be vigilant about watching and listening. Things happen quickly, so just be aware as much as possible.

Stairs especially to basements, things under the sink are the two biggies.
Get the safety plugs and check for cords that are hanging. Remember too, that you must watch them no matter how much you baby proof. That being said babies and toddlers need to learn that some things are dangerous. If you baby proof every little thing, then you will let your guard down and child will never learn that there are dangers that exist. So it boils down to this: watch your baby!

Tether your furniture(dressers, entertainment center,bookshelves etc) and also your tvs so that they can't fall over on him. So many children are injured this way and it is something most people dont even think about.

I only read Laura M's response and it was great. Please be sure to take all of her advice and do get down on your hands and knees and take a look around. You'll be surprised at what you see that you would have never thought about.

Also, make sure there are no cords hanging down say from a telephone or window blinds. Cords can get wrapped around the neck and choke baby.

You might need to get a baby gate to keep the child out of the kitchen or away from stairs. You should also think about any sharp or pointed table corners. If he/she is crawling now, it won't be long before he/she is pulling himself/herself up to stand.