As your baby starts to become more mobile with crawling or taking their first steps, it is important for you to take some steps around your home to make it safe for your child. Baby proofing is generally a gradual job—you might think you’ve covered everything in your approach to childcare in Phoenix, AZ, only to find your child has discovered a brand-new way of getting into mischief that you never would have expected.
There are some steps you should always take immediately when your child shows signs of moving independently. Here are a few of the steps you should take to baby proof your home:
- Lock or secure bathroom doors: The bathroom is an area that can be unsafe for children if they get into water or cleaning products. It’s important to always keep bathrooms locked or secured when not in use so small children do not find their way in while exploring. Sooner or later your toddler will learn how to use door knobs, and at that point you may need to take extra measures to secure your bathroom.
- Heavy objects: Keep an eye out around your home for any heavy objects that could potentially be dangerous to the child and, whenever possible, remove them or anchor them. Consider anchoring bookshelves and other heavy furniture to walls, and remove heavy lamps or televisions from surfaces the child might be able to reach in order to pull at them. You can purchase safety straps and brackets from any hardware or home goods store.
- Practice good electrical safety: You should cover all electrical sockets that are not in use, as children will become interested in finding things to stick in the sockets. You should also keep an eye on your electrical cord maintenance. Whenever possible, secure cords to the floor or walls to prevent children from pulling on them or getting tangled in them.
- Watch window blinds: Children love putting things around their neck for whatever reason, and the cords for window blinds are a common choking hazard. Make sure to check the window coverings in your home and replace them with cordless options whenever feasible.
- Set up gates: Small gates are a great way to block off areas you do not want your child to have access to, especially stairways. It takes quite some time for children to really be able to navigate stairs on their own—you should never allow them to play or navigate stairs unsupervised, and gates can help with that.
- Protect edges: If there are any sharp corners or edges that could potentially be dangerous to your child but cannot be removed, you can use soft edge protectors to place on them that would protect your child in case they have a fall.
- Create safe play areas: Realistically, you’re not going to have your eyes on your child 100 percent of the time, which means you need to have at least one area in your home where you know for sure it is safe for your child to play unsupervised for a short time.
For more information about baby proofing your home in Phoenix, AZ, contact Magical Star Preschool today.