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 Being
a parent is one of the most rewarding things you can do. This is
likely a statement you have heard before, or maybe even said
yourself. While this is true, it also gives one the impression that
parenting is simple, maybe even making it seem easy. A more
appropriate quote, when read with parenting in mind, may be the
following quote from Arnold Palmer, according to brainyquote.com:
“The most rewarding things you can do in life are often the ones
that look like they cannot be done.”
When someone is expecting to become a parent, they must consider how
to keep their child safe at home. At first, while there are a ton of
rules, they mostly seem simple enough to follow. Make sure your baby
sleeps on their back, don’t put anything in their crib with them,
feed them at regular intervals, etc. As soon as your little bundle
of joy realizes that the four limbs they have can be used to crawl,
however, the task of keeping them safe becomes anything but simple.
This becomes even more true when your child realizes they only need
the bottom two of those limbs to move around. Once your child learns
about the amazing concept known as “running,” all bets are off. If
these are thoughts you’ve had, whether you are a parent, are
expecting, or are just thinking about what being a parent would look
like, then read on.
One of the earliest things you can do to start baby
proofing your home is to make sure that you have all of the proper
detectors. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are two of
the most common and needed, according to Pampers’ baby proofing
checklist. They encourage readers to check these devices each month
and, of course, change the batteries regularly.
Electrical outlets are also very important to baby proof. Outlets
are a source of many potential hazards like fires and electrocution.
Children should never be left unattended near open outlets, or even
ones with things plugged into them. According to Pampers, “children
love to stick their tiny fingers and toys into any small spaces they
can find.” Seeing as how the outlets in the average home are not far
off the ground, this can be a problem as early as your child
beginning to crawl. Outlet covers are readily available to buy at
most retailers and are simple to install, only requiring them to be
plugged into the wall. These covers can be nearly impossible for
children to remove.
In addition to these covers that plug directly into the outlet, you
can also purchase a box that covers the entire outlet. This allows
you to keep your electrical items plugged in and your child out.
This is a more expensive option and requires more time to install.
These boxes keep your child from unplugging whatever is plugged in
themselves. If this is a problem you’re having, or just something
you don’t want to have to contend with, consider this option.
Another common issue you may have across your home is the threat of
furniture toppling over if it is knocked into. Many children develop
the ability to run before they are able to be fully aware of their
surroundings, making this threat very real for any family with tall
or wobbly furniture. China hutches, bookcases, or televisions are
all hazards. The website Babylist has an article on childproofing
written by Seran Kim, an ER Physician. Dr. Kim lists this as her
third suggestion to childproof your home.
With a television, the answer to keeping it from toppling over can
be as simple as a wall mount. This option, while requiring you to
drill into your wall, will keep your television secured to it. While
many wall mounts fit televisions of varying sizes, it must be a flat
screen. This option can also be a bit on the pricier side. You can
also get furniture straps instead, allowing you to strap your
television to the back of whatever kind of stand you have it on.
This option will only keep the television from falling forward,
however.
In the case of bookcases, China hutches, or other taller furniture,
the straps mentioned above are also an option here, though you will
likely have to drill into your wall if using them in this way.
Another option is a wall anchor. This option may be the most secure
of all your options but will require you to drill a bit into the
back of your furniture to secure the anchor to it. If you would
rather not drill into either your wall or furniture, there are no
drill options that use strong adhesives instead.
Another great piece of advice in Dr. Kim’s article
involves the use of baby gates to protect your child from the
stairs. Dr. Kim recommends using them at the tops and bottom of your
stairs. This will keep your child from climbing up the stairs only
to come to a baby gate and then try to navigate back down
themselves. Pampers’ website also states an additional advantage of
baby gates is using them to keep your child out of rooms you do not
want them in. Choosing what baby gate to purchase is another
difficult task, as there are so many brands, styles, and even
materials that the gates are made of.
[to top of second column] |
The New York Times has an article from 2023 that
reviews and gives recommendations on different models of baby gates
based on criteria such as ease of use/installation and security. You
can read that list for yourself
here. (The Best Baby Gate | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes.com))
Dr. Kim’s list, like most childproofing lists you’ll find, is
extensive, and should definitely be
read (Childproofing Checklist: 20 Tips from an ER Doctor (babylist.com))
for yourself. The website What to Expect also has an extensive list,
but this one, like the Pampers list mentioned previously, is broken
down by room of your house. Lists such as these help to navigate the
vast amount of information available on baby proofing to find the
room you are working on. One of these rooms, the nursery, may be one
of, if not the most important rooms to baby proof, as the entire
purpose of the room is to have the baby in it. What to Expect
recommends things such as having an open top toy box to reduce the
risk of pinched fingers, and cordless window blinds to eliminate the
risk of strangulation on the blinds’ cords.
All in all, there is too much information on baby proofing to
recount in this article, but here are a few final tips. Go through
each room of your house and baby proof them one at a time. While
there are whole house issues that should be addressed, such as
smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and outlets, taking on the task in
this manner will help you stay organized and reduce the likelihood
that you will miss something.
Secondly, use your common sense as a parent. There
may be things that you may not think of when baby proofing your own
home, but you know your child better than anyone else. Address the
issues you think are the most hazardous to your child first. A
parent’s intuition is a powerful thing.
Lastly, make sure to do research for yourself as well, seeking out
credible sources such as articles written by doctors or trusted
brands. The amount of information on baby proofing available to the
average person is absolutely overbearing. Finding several trusted
sources is the way to go.
Also, don’t discount the experience of friends and family that have
already raised kids. Someone who has already been through the
headache of baby proofing might just be the best source of advice
and inspiration. Keep a sharp eye on your child and learn everything
you can to help you in your effort of keeping them safe.
[Matt Boutcher]
Sources:
1.
https://www.brainyquote.com/
quotes/arnold_palmer_386349
2.
https://www.pampers.com/en-us/baby/parenting-life/article/
baby-proofing-your-home
3.
https://www.babylist.com/
hello-baby/doctor-childproofing
-checklist
4.
https://www.whattoexpect.
com/nursery-decorating/child
proofing-basics.aspx#nursery
5.
https://www.nytimes.com/
wirecutter/reviews/best-baby-gate/
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