How to Buy Child-Proofing Supplies
Your baby's job is to explore every inch of his or her world. Your job: Make sure that the terrain is safe for the intrepid explorer. It isn't too early to start infant-proofing your home before your baby arrives. You'll need to reassess the safety of your home and outdoor areas regularly, as your little Houdini grows and becomes more mobile.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Review the manufacturer's guidelines for your newborn's equipment (cribs, strollers, car seats, portable cribs, baths and monitors) to make sure you're using everything safely and correctly. If you purchased an item secondhand, contact its manufacturer to obtain a copy of the guidelines or check online.
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2
Move items above the crib out of baby's reach as soon as he or she learns to roll over or push himself up on his hands (typically between 3 and 6 months).
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Make sure that by the time your baby is crawling (around 7 months), you've made your home as safe as possible. Strap tall, heavy furniture to the wall. Place fragile items out of reach. Crawl around yourself and see what looks dangerous (or enticing) from that vantage point.
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4
Count outlets, cupboards, doors and openings that need to be made safe before going to the store. You can find baby-proofing supplies at children's boutiques, Babies R Us and Target, or online at BabyProof.com. Socket guards, safe plates, window guards, door knob covers and finger guards are among the safety gadgets that can be installed in these areas.
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Install wall-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases. You may want to create baby-safe zones with additional gates. Bathrooms and kitchens pose the most hazards. Avoid finger-pinching accordion-fold gates.
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Keep purses out of reach--especially when Grandma comes to visit. They're full of fascinating dangers, from coins and medications to nail files and makeup.
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Look on parent Web sites for recommendations or in the Yellow Pages under "Baby Proofing" for a full-service consultant. Call for an appointment. They will come to your home and do a complete safety inspection and install all necessary equipment. They will even sell you the equipment on the spot, and while it won't be cheap, it may well be worth the peace of mind knowing it was done correctly.
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Stay current and reassess dangers at each developmental milestone. Every time your child is able to do something new and fabulous--roll over, sit up, grasp, crawl, cruise, climb, walk, run, bolt into the street--hazards that were previously out of reach suddenly come into play. Stay one leap ahead and don't be lulled into a false sense of complacency.
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Tips & Warnings
Take a fresh look at your safety measures when your child starts to walk. He or she is picking up speed and can reach much higher than a baby on all fours.
Keep an eye out for older children who can disable safety gates and locks. Tell them you need their help to keep the baby safe.
Lock away medicines, toiletries, cleaning materials, matches and anything else that could pose a hazard to your baby. Post the local poison control number next to your phone. To find yours, go to aapcc.org.
Protect your child from wandering into the pool. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in the home of children under 5 years old. Install locks at the tops of all interior doors leading to the pool area. Buy a detector that emits a shrill warning if the surface of the water is broken, or consider an automatic pool cover. Many cities and states require pools to be surrounded by fences whether or not there is a child living in the home.
Do not use a pressure-mounted safety gate at the top or bottom of a staircase. These gates cannot withstand the weight of a child as well as a wall-mounted gate can, and are best used as a barrier between rooms.
