Tips for Toddler-Proofing Your Home

If you know a parent with a child older than two years old, they likely have horror stories about items around the house that should have been kept out of the baby's reach, but wasn't due to neglect or oversight. It might be a coin that ended up in the diaper a couple days later or an uncovered light socket that is mysteriously temping to any child. It doesn't matter how much you try to baby proof the home, your efforts will eventually be thwarted in some capacity. Instead of stressing out unnecessarily, why not be productive instead? Understanding that baby proofing a home has basically become an industry in itself should make it easy for you to seek out the information and products you need in order to give you peace of mind. There are even kits that come with all of the essential items you need such as cabinet door latches, doorknob coverings and electrical outlet plugs. If you have a baby or are expecting, spend an afternoon and take inventory of all the possible places your child could injure him or herself and take a trip to a home improvement or baby store to get the necessary items to fix any glaring issues.

Get Down on Your Knees

No, it's not time for praying...yet. That comes when your toddler becomes a teenager. For now, getting on your knees is a way of looking around your house in order to see things through the eyes of a toddler as much as possible. From this position, crawl around your home...everywhere. Pick up everything you can and put it into your mouth. Try to pull down things that you can reach, try to climb up on anything that looks even remotely inviting. Stick your hand in the toilet and open every drawer you can find. Once you are done with this exercise, you should have a better idea of what work still needs to be done to make sure your precious child does not pull down the little knickknack table with all your glass figurines on it.  Or better yet, reach into your underwear drawer and pull out your socks to try to flush down the toilet.

Pick up all of the small items that can be a choking hazard, and seal off those areas of the house that a 1 year-old has no business going into alone...like the bathroom. Consider investing in a child gate or two from your local Wal Mart or Babies R Us which can keep your toddler from entering entire sections of your home. In addition, if you have any window blinds in your home, check the cords to make sure they are up and out of reach of a toddler. They can present a choking hazard to a kid, even if they are the split kind without a loop.

Were You Raised in a Barn?

Remember to keep the doors closed at all times! Not only will this deter your little one from venturing off into a place they shouldn't be, there are safety benefits as well. For example, a closed door can help minimize fire damage by slowing the spread and buying time for any persons on the other side. Toddler-proofing your home also has a hidden benefit you might not have considered up to this point - you will be cleaning it at the same time. Think of all the clutter you will eliminate by being a responsible homeowner and parent. It will help you get organized and chances are you will continue these habits as your son or daughter grows.