Over the past month or so, I’ve been babyproofing the home. I’ve always really been into interior home design. From Art Deco cut glass to baroque candleholders and mirrors, my apartment used to be littered with sparkling adornments that paid homage to forgotten eras. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to some of my most prized possessions; this was not before losing some to the inquisitive little hands belonging to my one-year-old.
For some, packing away or giving away items that serve no purpose in a home where the baby now rules the roost can be a breeze. I on the other hand really miss sitting amongst my beautiful things! That said, the safety and happiness of my little one is of course paramount, as is the same for all the mamas out there already on or just about to enter the babyproofing-the-home journey.
There are some basic essentials that moms and dads can pick up or order to make the home safer for babies and toddlers. Babyproofing the home needn’t be a chore and doesn’t need to cost a bomb. The first phase of babyproofing your apartment will generally involve finding new homes for items that could be dangerous in the hands of curious little ones, or the removal of items from surfaces and counter tops now reachable that you don’t want damaged, or smothered in baby drool. Pack away or find new homes for ornaments, books, remote controls, (my son is obsessed with every kind), and anything made from materials that are likely to smash if dropped!
Once the removal of dangerous (and precious) objects is out of the way, use some of these essentials below to finish off babyproofing the family home. All of these items can be found on Taobao and take seconds to assemble, stick on, or plug in!
Put safety plugs or outlet covers over used and unused outlets, or block them with furniture.
Attach foam (or another soft material) corner and edge guards to sharp cabinet corners, rocking chair corners, bed corners, and sofa corners. You get the gist – wherever there’s a corner, slap an edge guard on there!
We recently moved to a newly refurbished apartment. We loved the look of the new tiled flooring, but realized this was one of the biggest danger hazards for our then crawling and now walking toddler. Cover wooden and tiled flooring with child-friendly floor tiles. They’re great for playing, and are smash- and toddler-tumble-proof!
I’ve yet to install these, but safety gates are the perfect solution to stop little ones from entering rooms and keeping them within a designated area where you can keep a watchful eye on them. Place them at entrances to bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, or within the living area to create a play pen that’s inescapable!
Control access to unsafe areas with safety gates, door locks and knob covers. Stop your toddler from opening and peering into low cupboards and grabbing at items that are likely to break when not handled with care. My little one loved peering into my kitchen cupboard, and has already successfully emptied my pots and pans shelf. Do yourself a favor and get those latches on!
Photo: Pixabay
