If you have a baby or toddler and have been wracking your brain on how to baby proof your home, you’ve come to the right place! I have a 20 month old son, so I have spent the majority of the last year finding something new that I need to babyproof everyday. Whether you are renting or own your home, we’re here to help breakdown some must-haves for creating a safe home for your baby or toddler!
1. Stairs
If you live in a two story house, the stairs are the first concern once your baby is on the move! For our staircase, we have installed gates at the top and bottom of the steps. This is so if Henry is playing downstairs, he can’t begin trying to climb up and potentially fall. And if Henry is playing upstairs, he of course cannot fall down them to the first floor. We did not want to have to install anything into our walls, so found these gates from Amazon that utilize pressure mounts to attach to the walls and have locks that are toddler proof. These are perfect for rentals where you cannot drill into the walls!
2. Plugs
Those little fingers always end up where they are not supposed to be! Plugs and cords are ubiquitous for all of us and a huge concern for babies and toddlers. These basic plug covers work great! There are a lot of other options to keep kids safe such as these outlet cover boxes that can keep little ones from pulling at plugged in devices. For our mounted television and baby monitor cords, we purchased these cord covers to keep the temptation at bay to tug.
3. Appliances
One of the safety concerns that I did not realize we needed baby proofing items for were appliances. Once Henry started crawling, we found him tugging at the oven drawer. I had no idea that this was something we’d have to protect! We purchased these latches to keep the drawer closed. They can also be used on refrigerators and dishwashers.
4. Bathrooms
With water involved, much can go wrong with babies and toddlers who aren’t too confident with their walking. In the tub, we have a non slip bathmat and a faucet cover. We also have cabinet locks under the sink to protect him from items. To keep the baby or toddler from burning themselves if they accidentally turn on the hot water in the tub or sink, make sure to turn down your hot water heater. Lastly, you can use the previously mentioned latches on the toilet to keep little hands out!