Proofing a New House

I have 3 kids and here's what I suggest--start with the basics--outlet plugs on every outlet, locks on the cabinets if they have anything in them you don't want the child to get out and a gate on any stairs. Then watch her and babyproof as needed--edges of a fireplace, locks on a bathroom door or potty (it's expensive if they learn to flush stuff down and it causes a clog!!), etc.

Hi C.,
I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet but watch out for houseplants. Some can be poisonous and that is the one thing my 9 month old goes after. Also anything she can pull over like floor lamps, bar stools etc.. Good luck and congrats!!

Browse around the baby proofing aisles at Babies R Us or Toys R Us. I've found that you can baby proof at 7 months, but it's really a never-ending process. After she learns to crawl you'll need to update, when she pulls up you'll need to update, when she walks, when she climbs, as she gets taller, etc., etc.

A good way to figure out what needs to be done, is to crawl around on all fours (I know, sounds silly) and see what she sees all day from her point of view. You'll see things that need to be picked up, put away, or baby-proofed.

Start with window blinds. You can buy things that help you wrap the cords up and out of reach. Also make sure drapery is all up and out of reach. Then electrical outlet covers. Make sure electrical cords are all out of reach. You can put covers over the corners of tables and other sharp edges (though my daughter gummed these and eventually pulled them off). You can also buy covers for your stove knobs if they are down low in front. They also have door knob covers for both traditional and french door knobs. Cabinet locks are another good investment... though my tricky toddler has learned to undo them.

Well I guess it all depends on how much expendable money you have and how much you pay attention to your kiddo. If you are on top of them all the time you don't need to worry so much. Outlets of course would be a concern, unless you have placed furniture in front of them so baby can't get to them. If you get the covers, get the ones that slide to the side to put the plug in, NOT the ones where you have to pry a plug out...the plugs are still dangerous if they try to pry them out and of course, they are choking hazards.

Unless you like baby in your kitchen cabinets, I would recommend putting some kind of lock system on them as well as the bathroom cabinets. Certainly make sure that all your cleaning supplies are either up high or behind a locked door. I would recommend either the door knob covers for the bathrooms (to totally keep baby out) or at least a toilet lock so they can't play in it, drown in it, or throw toys down it (my BFF had a $350 plumbing bill PLUS a new toilet thanks to baby throwing a toys down the drain and it getting stuck).

From my own kids, I needed a lock on the refrigerator and freezer (because if they opened the refigerator they would slam it so hard the freezer door would pop open)...yours may not be there now...but they will be...keep an eye on the clearance aisles as you can find these pretty cheap on sale.

I would also put the door knob covers over the door knobs to outside so baby can't escape when you aren't looking.

As for table edges, etc...that stuff just happens. You can watch and watch baby as much as you want but there is no way to protect them 100%...things will happen, you just do the best that you can.

One of the best ways I learned to baby proof my house was to get on my hands and knees and crawl around the house and look at it from baby's perspective...heck take baby with you...he'll probably show you everything you never thought of too! LOL...

Oh, BTW- if you have a lot of space you may want to consider one of those baby containment units. It's like a big fence that you can encircle around them to play in but keeps them in that area while you are working, etc.

If you have a fireplace you need to block that or cover it with a foam cover, if you have doors on the fireplace get a lock to lock them. Put all plastic covers on all the outlets,in any room, any dangling wires from appliances pull them up. If your knobs on your stove are in the front they have covers to go over them. Get locks for all the cabinets that are down low, or you can put up all the cleaning products. If you have blinds that have the dangling cords pull them up. You can go to babys r us to get alot of childproofing products.

I didn't read everyone's comments but I was given some advice when my oldest was little that I thought was a really good idea. I was told to get down on their level, ie. crawl around on your hands and knees and try to see things from their perspective. This will give you a little better idea of what things might be dangerous. Also, each child is different. What one child might get into, another will avoid so you can't make everything baby proof. Child proofing a house is more of a process then a one time cure all and everything changes as they get bigger.

I think the last bit of advice is best. Wait and see what needs to be baby proofed. The only thing I ever did was put a lock on the cabinet under the sink because of the cleaning supplies I keep. I am not even sure if that was necessary.

Baby proofing is the PC thing to do. After all aren't you negligent when you don't baby proof? Then consider this, if you travel with the baby to friends houses, family, restaurants, the chances are slim that where you go will be baby proofed. Isn't it best to figure out at home what junior will get into and teach them to leave it alone. This really is the only way to keep them safe.

Of course obvious things like open stairs need to be secured. I never did the fire place and the only kid to hit their head on that was 8 at the time and goofing with their friends.

The best way I know is to get on your hands and knees and see things through your childs eyes. Anything lower than 3 feet should be item that won't break or cause her any harm. Also put plug ins to all the out lets, be sure any cords that are plugged in are behind things and out of reach. Also getting child proof locks for lower cabinet doors are a good idea. Rooms you don't want her in could be closed for now but just know that within a year or so she will be able to open them.

Good Luck,

V.

Hi C.! Congrats on the new baby and the new house. That is wonderful. It sounds like the ladies have taken care of what you need to do to baby proof. I was going to say to crawl around and look at it form their view. One thing that my husband and I found and loved for the cabinets were TOT LOCKS. They are for the cabinets BUT they are not visable to see. We had a brand new house when our daughter was right at about a year and wanted something that could work if we wanted them locked or didn't want them locked. They work out wonderful and are sometimes hard to find. Babies R Us is always sold out of them but you can find them online.

Good Luck and Congratulations!

Instead of putting child locks on our cabinets, we just moved everything that we didn't want our little ones to get into. The cleaning supplies are in the cabinet above the sink. Beyond that, there is nothing that they can't play with, but there are things we prefer they not play with. That way, we can teach them to respond to "No" without the chance that they can really hurt themselves.

The only advice I really have is get down on their level. Walk around on your hands and knees and see what you see at eye level. Bags, paper, anything that can fit through a toilet paper tube is supposed to be a possible choking hazard. My son is 20 months and just started eating paper for some reason. Maybe he has more teeth coming it and it feels good? I'm not sure. Anywho.
Good luck. Remember, no amount of childproofing can ever take the place of a parent's eye.

Hi C.!
Get down on all fours and start crawling! Looks like you've gotten quite a bit of advice, but one thing I haven't seen yet...Look for things that she could pull herself up on. For example, if you have a tablecloth on your table that will be within her reach, with some pretty breakable decoration on it...Also look for things she may bump her head on when she tries to stand. There are lots of things you can't control (like bumping her head on a corner of a countertop), but it will help to know what to watch out for! Have fun on this adventure!

I just did the major stuff before my son starting walking, and then my more he got around, the more things I saw would potentially injure him, or the item itself, I just baby-proofed then. That was what worked for us. Good luck!

congrats! on the house and the baby. just use common sense - as long as you're watching the baby, you'll figure out soon enough what needs "baby proofing". but i would start with all the electronic outlets, and locks on the cupboards. we ended up just MAJORLY babyproofing the livingroom, and locking him in there with baby gates. it worked best for us! of course as she gets older you'll want to expand her "area", but that's how we started.

Hi C.,

Great advice from everyone. I would also contact your local County Health Department or health clinic, and also the Poison Control Center. They will be able to give you complete lists to check. Some of the everyday items can be hazardous to little ones and we don't even know it.

Best Wishes,

J. H.

Hey C., you might just want to follow her around and see what interests her. Make sure she knows "no" means "NO" right away and that should help. We had to redirect a lot and bring out toys on a blanket. Some attach shelves to walls, too so they can't get pulled over on top of them. Good luck and enjoy the adventures to come!

Melanie in Swansea, IL

Hi C.,

Sounds like you've received some great advice already! Outlet plug covers, corner guards, cabinet locks, house plants, safety gates, anything that she can pull up on (like someone already mentioned tablecloths). Not sure if anyone else has mentioned doors and toilets yet? The little ones can easily close the doors on their fingers. I bought these great foam pieces that fit on the doors from Babies R Us. It prevents the doors from closing shut completely. Also...toilets. Sounds crazy, but once the little ones are able to pull up, toilets (and the water) are sometimes what they love playing with. To prevent possible drowning, make sure to keep your toilet lids closed (or even the bathroom doors closed). Also, just a rule of thumb, anything that can fit inside an empty toilet paper roll is too small for them to play with. Hope this info is helpful!

Cover your outlets with plug covers, put cabinet locks on your unsafe cabinets and drawers also corner covers for sharp corners. You can buy kits with all these items in them. Watch for items she might decide climbing on. A little exploring is how they learn just make sure it is as safe as possible and there will be bumps and bruises, but it is all part of the process.