Bringing a baby home is an exciting moment in any parent’s life. The nursery you built finally welcomes a giggling, raspberry-blowing bundle of joy. But before the stork arrives, parents must prepare the home to be a safe zone for their baby.
Baby proofing should start as soon as possible, according to the International Association for Child Safety. Here’s how to keep curious hands out of places they shouldn’t wander to!
Crib safety
The International Association for Child Safety recommends keeping pillows and stuffed animals away from a baby’s crib, especially from newborns. This also includes baby bumpers, which could serve as a suffocation hazard. Cribs should be placed in a location where babies cannot pull items such as wall decorations, lamps, monitors and especially cords of any sort into the crib.
Choking hazards
Babies love experiencing the world through taste. They reflexively bring items to their mouths, according to the International Association for Child Safety. Because of this reflex, parents should especially look for choking hazards such as home decorations placed on low shelves, coins left out or any other small items within baby’s grasp.
Cover sharp edges
Crawling explorers don’t understand that sharp edges mean trouble. Curious minds are always wandering and attempting to understand what the world holds in store for them. But, as the old saying goes, curiosity sometimes shocks the cat! Always cover those edges to avoid painful experiences and large wailing baby cries.
Electrical outlets
Curiosity, as mentioned previously, does literally shock the cat. Cover electrical outlets to keep tiny fingers from prodding the holes. Electrical sockets are dangerous because they push electrical currents and you don’t want your baby on the receiving end. Electrical covers are a simple and inexpensive way to keep your baby safe. Just remember to replace the cover when you are done using the outlet.
Poison
Parents should not only keep their cleaning supplies out of sight, but they should keep them out of reach. Babies love to explore, and as children get older, they begin to open cabinets out of curiosity.
It’s important to keep this in mind and to keep bleach and other poisonous items away. Children could screw off a cap and ingest products. Prevent accidents by keeping such items out of reach.
Pools and bathtubs
Babies can’t quite swim yet, so parents should keep a close eye when a child is in water. According to the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) as posted on FindAnyAnswers.com, there were 1,093,655 swimming pools in Florida in 2020. If your home has a pool, take the time to place a gate or net around the pool. Safety precautions like these can save lives.
Bath time is another safety concern. According to HealthyChildren.org, babies can drown in as little as one to two inches of water and in a matter of seconds. Consider an infant tub with a sling to keep your baby’s face away from the water and never take your eyes off a bathing child.
Parenting can be difficult, but by taking preventive steps to make your home a safe zone, it will be easier to welcome your new baby to your home with peace of mind.