Bringing your little bundle of joy home for the first time is one of the most exciting moments you’ll experience now that you’ve become a parent. You’ve probably already designed their nursery and bought everything they could possibly need to make sure you’re prepared for this new chapter in your life. Other than securing a comfy and cozy nest for your little one, welcoming a newborn requires some additional preparations in order to create a safe environment for them to grow in. Read on for some useful tips on how you can baby-proof your home and secure a child-friendly space for your tot.
Make use of non-slip pads
Once your baby starts crawling and scooting around the house, you want to make sure that all the surfaces around your home are slip-resistant. Secure any rugs that tend to move around and slip by attaching non-slip pads under them. This will ensure they stay in place and reduce the chances of your child (or yourself) slipping and falling. They can also be used to keep in place any other objects that tend to slip, such as stair treads and floor mats. Also, non-slip suction pads will help secure bowls and tableware and prevent your child from knocking them over.
Secure your outlets with safety plugs
Small children are curious, and sometimes their curiosity can lead them to explore around the house and stick their small fingers and small objects where they shouldn’t. Electrical outlets are all around the house, which makes them all the more dangerous for your little one. Cover your outlets using safety plugs – they’re made of plastic and fit right into the power outlets, thus blocking your child from sticking anything inside. The plugs are flat, which means your child won’t be able to take them out.
Call in the pros to further secure your home
Speaking of the electrical hazards that lurk around your home, in order to protect your child’s safety, you have to make sure that all electrical products are in good working order. Electrical safety should be your top priority as a parent, which is why you should have your electrical equipment tested and inspected. This is by no means a DIY project, especially if you live in countries like Australia, where verifying electrical installations is regulated by the state. For Aussie homeowners, the safest route to take would be to hire a reliable electrician – a licensed tradesman will detect any electrical faults and eliminate any damage or electrical faults, creating a safe environment for your family.
Attach the furniture to the wall to prevent tip-overs
When babies start to move around the home, you need to make sure that every inch of your living space is secured and baby-proofed, and your furnishings are no exception. Our homes are full of heavy objects that can pose a danger for our little ones, as they can be knocked over if we’re not careful. Therefore, make sure that your dressers, cupboards, and bookshelves are attached to the wall. This will anchor the furniture and keep it in place, thus helping you avoid any tip-overs.
Secure any sharp corners with bumpers
Once the baby arrives, sharp furniture corners and edges become a big no-no in a home. Placing corner guards and bumpers on the edges is an effective way to protect your child from bumps and bruises, so you don’t have to worry about them getting injured while playing around. Because kids like to put things in their mouth and try to chew on anything they can find, you want to make sure to choose bumpers that are made from non-toxic material such as silicone rubber. Place them on the corners of wooden desks, glass tables, as well as fireplace hearths made from metal to secure any sharp edges and effectively child-proof your home.
Keeping your newborn safe is one of the most important tasks that come with the role of a parent. Once your little explorer starts touching, poking, and grabbing all the different items around the home (and they’re fascinated by pretty much anything), it helps to employ a couple of suggestions from those who went through all of that before us and do our best to protect our children from any potential dangers. Be sure to cross off these five items off your checklist to ensure your living space is baby-proofed, hazard-free, and child-friendly.