How to Make a Home Safe for a Baby

Take the time to baby-proof your house to keep your little one safe.

Once your baby begins crawling, your home may become a dangerous place. An older baby's natural curiosity, paired with her lack of good judgment, can make a seemingly ordinary item in your home hazardous. To reduce the risk of injury to your baby, you may want to consider modifying your home. Remove dangerous objects from her reach, gradually teach your baby what is dangerous, and be constantly watchful when your baby is exploring. Training your baby to know what is and is not safe will take months, even years. Modifying the environment around her may be the best way to keep your baby safe at the beginning of this time. Below are some tips for making your home safe for your baby.

Things You'll Need

• Safety Latches Window Guards Corner Guards Cushioned Strips Outlet Covers Safety Gates

Instructions

1. Remain alert. You cannot make a home 100 percent childproof. It is essential that you monitor your baby at all times. It only takes a moment for an accident to occur. Always keep an eye on your baby, as he can get hurt on items and in situations that you never considered.

2. Take extra care when using household cleaning items, medicines, and appliances when your baby is around. Dangerous items, such as power tools or dangerous chemicals, should not be used when your baby is around unless a second caregiver is present to supervise the baby.

3. Install window guards. If your windows are above ground level, be sure to modify your windows so that they cannot open more than 6 inches. Make sure that there is no furniture close to the windows that your baby can use to climb.

4. Put up window treatment cords. Tie them or secure them high enough that your baby cannot become tangled in them or pull on them. Do not put your baby's crib within reach of window cords. Contact the Window Covering Safety Council for free window safety kits.

5. Move electrical cords out of reach. Put them behind or underneath furniture. It is important that your baby is unable to chew on the cords or tug on the cords and pull lamps down. Do not hide cords under rugs---they may overheat and catch fire.

6. Cover electrical outlets. Use outlet covers or place furniture in front of outlets.

7. Remove unstable furniture. If you have any furniture that is wobbly or delicate, remove it from your baby's reach. He will use objects around him to pull himself up. You do not want to risk having the baby pull unsteady furniture over onto himself. Secure bookcases and other top-heavy items to the wall.

8. Keep drawers closed. If possible, you may want to also keep drawers safety latched. Open drawers make a great ladder for your baby to climb. Your baby may pull a dresser down on herself while climbing it or climb up on the kitchen counter and fall.

9. Put baby gates on stairways. Put one gate at the bottom, three steps up, and one gate at the top. Do not use tension gates. Purchase gates that are hardware mounted and be sure to install them correctly.

10. Barricade the fireplace. Put up a safety barricade or grille to keep your baby away. Be sure that he cannot get close enough to get burned or touch the fireplace tools.

11. Cover sharp edges. If your baby can run into sharp edges on tables or chests, either remove the piece of furniture or cover the edges with cushioned strips and corner guards.

12. Be certain that your baby's toy box is safe. Make sure that the lid is light weight and that is has safety hinges so that the lid does not slam down on your baby's hands. You may even want to consider having a toy box with no lid or using open shelving to store toys.

13. Keep all medications, shampoos, toothpaste, lotions and makeup out of baby's reach.

14. Keep the lid of the toilet closed with a safety latch. Most babies love to play in the toilet. This can be unsanitary. A baby could also fall head first into the toilet and drown.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have older children, make sure that your baby does not have access to their toys. Toys made for older children are often not safe for babies. To locate all of the dangers within your baby's reach, get down on the floor and look around the room. Looking at things from your baby's perspective will help you see safety concerns that you otherwise may miss.

• Check your home for lead paint. If you are not sure if a painted surface contains lead, repaint it. Do no leave razors within baby's reach, such as in the bathtub.

Resources

• Window Covering Safety Council
• Tips from the Poison Control Center