Is your little one starting to get into everything? Are they in your cabinets? On top of the coffee table? Pulling everything out of the drawers?
If you’ve made it to this post, they probably are!
I’m sure they’re making themselves around your house destroying everything and you can barely keep up! You’ve probably picked up the same toys seventeen times today!
Your little baby is becoming a toddler and it’s time to baby proof your home!
We all know there will always be something for your kid to get into. They will always find a way to hurt themselves no matter if you’re in the other room or standing two feet away from them.
But at least you can have some peace of mind knowing you can leave the room for a minute, if you apply some basic safety tips to baby proof your home.
Here are a few precautions that I’ve taken that I hope you can find helpful as well!
>>Don’t have time to read the whole post? Sign up below for a free baby proofing checklist!<<
How To Baby Proof Your Home:
- Cabinet Locks
Safety First has a variety of cabinet locks and you can find them just about anywhere!
We’ve even used releasable zip ties and they work just as well.
You can get the fancy magnetic cabinet locks or I personally like the cabinet latches because they’re quicker to open.
Whichever you decide to use, install them on bathroom cabinets, laundry cabinets and kitchen cabinets to keep your toddler away from cleaning supplies.
I’ve always kept my tupperware cabinet unlocked so Emmett can play with containers. Just make sure to move any glassware up high.
- Outlet Covers
You’ll want to make sure these are super tight so little fingers can’t pull them out.
A little tip: do not install these while your toddler is around. This only brings attention to the outlets. Wait until they’re asleep so they never even know you did anything!
- Hide Loose Cords
Cords can be hidden using cable covers that stick to the wall, or you can zip tie them together and then put them in a bin or basket that won’t draw attention to your busy toddler.
- Furniture Wall Straps
This is a big one! Unfortunately I found out the hard way that furniture straps are a must!
We have a handmade mirror in our bedroom and one day Emmett tugged on a towel that was draped over it and the mirror came falling on top of him. We weren’t quick enough to catch it and had to rush him to the doctor.
Thankfully he was okay but his face was scratched and bruised for several days. He took a pretty hard hit and now I know how important it is to have all of your furniture strapped to the wall.
We are honestly so lucky that he didn’t break his nose and if it had been a dresser we would’ve been in the emergency room.
So please learn from my mistake and secure all of your furniture!
- Door Handle Locks/Covers
We are just now having to install lever handle locks on our doors because Emmett loves to snoop in my messy closets!
But these are especially safe for doors that lead outside.
If you have door knobs instead of handles, you can buy grip n’ twist covers.
- Dishwasher Locks
If you have a dishwasher I highly recommend buying a lock for it because we all have to wash our glassware and knives and neither is safe for a toddler to play with.
I know this one seems silly because we should all be watching our little ones at all times and we do! But y’all, kids are fast! It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Baby Gates
For everyone with stairs, this is an obvious buy. Something to keep in mind- put gates at the top and bottom of your stairs.
I went to a family’s house once who had a baby gate at the top of their stairs but not at the bottom. And maybe some kids don’t have the desire to climb up stairs, but my son sure does!
We live in an apartment so we don’t have stairs in our home but I use gates to block off the kitchen while I cook or the bathroom while I’m getting ready. So they come in handy either way!
- Fireplace Cover
You can buy foam bumper pads to baby proof the hearth of your fireplace! For a more affordable solution, you could for example use a variety of cushions and pillows to create a barrier around your hearth.
Just remember to remove any pad, cushion or covering before using your fireplace because it is a serious safety hazard.
There are also foam corner cushions to line your hearth with, along with your coffee table, tv stand, etc.
Conclusion
After all, if you went online looking for ways to baby proof your home, you’re already doing enough!
When it comes to small things like glass coasters, vases, picture frames, or any type of decor, just think about what you want to fight about with your toddler everyday.
For example, my living room lamp has to stay and I refuse to give in and put it somewhere else even though Emmett is determined to mess with it. But my small table decor isn’t worth the fight so I just move it higher up.
Kids are wild and persistent so always stay on your toes! But hopefully my precautions will help take some weight off your shoulders.