About Living Room Childproofing
Childproofing a living room means making the space as safe as possible for children. It can seem like a daunting task because there are so many dangers to little children who want to grab, pull and put things in their mouth. It isn't, however, as overwhelming as it might feel, and if you start early you can be comfortable with your efforts by the time the baby is born.
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Time Frame
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The best time to childproof your living room is before the child is born because once the baby is there you'll be far to busy to worry about childproofing. Plus, you really won't need all the protection the first couple months, but you'll have a chance to get accustomed to using the outlet covers and cabinet locks.
Expert Insight
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One hazardous item people regularly overlook when baby-proofing a room is the TV. A television can fall forward fairly easily because it is so front-heavy. The experts at the Family Education website suggest keeping the TV on a low solid surface and as close to the wall as possible.
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Types
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There are a variety of ways to childproof a living room. You'll want to use outlet covers to prevent the child from sticking things in the electrical outlets. You'll want to tie up all cords to your blinds or curtains, which can be a serious hazard to small children. There are also ties available to tie back electric cords in use. This will prevent the child from pulling a lamp or something down on themselves. If you have tables in your living room, you can purchase table bumpers, which go around the corners of the tables to create a cushion in case the child falls into the table. You'll want to remove all breakable items and potted plants from the room. Replace glass-top tables with sturdy wood tables. Secure tall furniture such as bookcases to the wall to prevent the child from pulling them over, and vacuum regularly.
Considerations
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Crawl around on the floor to see things as your child will see them. You want to look for anything that could be potentially dangerous.
Warning
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Childproofing a room is not a substitution for constant supervision. Even if you were diligent in childproofing, children can find ways to hurt themselves. In addition, as infants become toddlers, they often find ways to open or remove childproofed items.
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