How to Baby Proof a Home

Many dangers lie in a normal American home for a baby. Knowing what dangers exist, and taking appropriate measures to eliminate the risk involved is the ultimate goal of baby proofing. While it's not possible to completely get rid of all risk, most baby-proofing is simple, inexpensive and easy to accomplish.

Instructions

• 1

  Cover electrical outlets with safety covers. There are also special covers for outlets with cords plugged in so baby can't pull them out and then have access to an open outlet. Most babies have a fascination with outlets and cords, so these are a very smart investment.

• 2

  Put child-proof handles on all the doors. There are special baby-proofing knob covers for both the flat and round handled type doors.

• 3

  Install a toilet lid latch. This latch prevents a baby from opening the toilet, yet is simple enough that a potty training toddler can learn to use it themselves. Toilets are a serious drowning risk for babies, and their curiosity leads them to the toilet at a very early age. It may take you a little time to get used to them, but after a few trips to the toilet in the middle of the night, you'll get the hang of it.

• 4

  Block off access to rooms with no doors with baby gates. Gates are especially useful in blocking off stairs. Check the measurements before you buy, to ensure your child isn't tall enough to crawl over.

• 5

  Ensure all medications have child-proof caps on them. Also, put the medications up high enough that baby can't reach. Call poison control immediately if a child EVER has an open pill bottle--even if you're unsure how many or if any have been swallowed.

• 6

  Buy a locking gun case or cabinet if guns are in the home. Gun related accidents are preventable and usually tragic. Always keep ammo separate from the weapons. This is extremely simple, and can easily save a life.

• 7

  Install baby-proof latches on drawers and cabinets that contain items unsafe for baby handling. Anywhere there are sharp items or things a baby should not eat, or breakables, for instance, should be baby proofed. Chemicals, such as housecleaning solutions, should also be inaccessible to children.

• 8

  Always watch the baby. It is nearly impossible to completely baby-proof a home. Checking on the baby and staying close enough to attend to her needs is ultimately the most important thing to baby-proof a home.

• 9

  Buy foam adhesives to place around fireplace hearths, coffee table edges, and other potential injury-causers. Most children's stores carry them.