Baby Proofing Your Home

Baby Proofing Your Home

Baby Proofing Your Home

Now your baby is on the move, reduce the risk of accidents with these simple steps

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During the first six months with your baby, life pretty much revolves around feeding, changing nappies and sleeping when you can. But just as you start to get used to this new way of life, along comes another curveball – crawling. Everything changes in a flash as you look around your home realising it needs to be made safe for inquisitive little fingers and hungry mouths, immediately.

According to ROSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), around half of under-fives end up in A&E due to an accident at home that could have been prevented, so as soon as your baby starts to show signs of moving – whether that’s rolling over, commando crawling or bum shuffling – let the baby proofing commence. Some experts even recommend doing it before the baby arrives so you can relax knowing the job’s done!

Whenever you choose to do it, here are some top tips for making your home a safer space, room by room.

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Kitchen

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A hotspot for serious accidents, here’s how to keep sharp and dangerous items away from little ones:

  • Fix safety latches on drawers and cupboards to keep sharp items out of harm’s way.

  • Put dishwasher tablets, detergents or laundry capsules out of reach, or in secure containers.

  • Switch off appliances whenever you’ve finished using them and never leave anything on the hob unattended.

  • Put away fridge magnets. They’re small and attractive to little hands and are a choking risk.

  • Use placemats, not tablecloths, on the table – toddlers can pull the cloth easily, bringing everything crashing down on top of them.

  • ‘Keep hot liquids away from baby and swap your mug for a travel cup with secure lid,’ says baby safety expert Holly Choi (@safebeginnings).

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safebeginning

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Bathroom

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With access to water, let alone hot water that can scald, these simple hacks will help keep little ones safe:

  • Shut the door whenever your bathroom isn’t being used, and lock it if possible, for peace of mind at home.

  • Keep medicines out of reach, preferably in locked cabinets.

  • Use tap guards to stop little ones being able to put on the hot tap by accident.

  • Turn down your hot water on the boiler to make sure your hot water is never scalding hot.

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Mum’s safety tip
‘A floating bath thermometer makes it so easy to know when the water is the right temperature for your baby.’
Jodie, mum to Bobbi-Rose, 3 and Sophia, 6 months

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Lounge

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Most accidents happen in our living space says ROSPA, so here’s how to reduce the risk of anything happening in your lounge or living room:

  • Cover up plug sockets with safety devices specially designed for this purpose and keep switches flicked off.

  • Make sure the backs of remote controls are on securely, ideally with duct tape to prevent batteries falling out (a common choking hazard).

  • Fix any free-standing furniture like bookcase or chests of drawers to the wall so they can’t tip over onto toddlers.

  • Baby proof sharp corners on coffee tables or units.

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Mum’s safety tip
‘Foam pool noodles are handy for sharp edges or to stop doors closing fully, too. We cut one and stuck it along a marble fireplace to prevent my little boy hitting his head on it.’
Farah, mum to Mustafa, 11 months

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Bedroom

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Little ones spend a lot of time in their nursery so try these baby proofing tips today:

  • Make sure blind cords are kept high up out of reach or are fixed safely to the wall to avoid strangulation risks.

  • Check your cot meets safety requirements, and make sure you drop the mattress base as soon as they can sit up (to prevent them falling or climbing out). Keep toys, bumpers and cushions or pillows out of the cot, too.

  • Wall-fix furniture such as changing table, chest of drawers and bookcases to avoid anything tipping over.

  • Don’t place any furniture near to or underneath windows, and add window locks to stop little hands opening them.

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Mum’s safety tip
‘Make sure everything you need is right near you before you change a nappy, so you’re not tempted to run and grab something quickly. All it takes is a second for your baby to flip over and fall off.’
Brianna, mum to Kayla, 9 months

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Stairs

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According to ROSPA, falls account for 44% of kids’ accidents at home. Make sure you keep your baby safe with these measures:

  • Use stair gates at the top and bottom of each staircase and keep them closed until you need to go up or downstairs.

  • Make sure you buy a reputable brand of stair gate that’s right for your staircase.

  • Watch bannisters with gaps in them and baby proof them with boards or safety netting if there’s any chance of them squeezing through.

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Mum’s safety tip
‘If you spend a lot of time seeing grandparents, install a stair gate at their house so everyone can relax when you visit.’
Juliette, mum to Oscar, 2 and Felix, 10 months