You’re having a baby soon and preparing for the new addition to your family. It’s an exciting and busy time. Along with shopping for baby clothes, bottles, bibs, and other essentials, you’ll need to prepare your home to make it safe. Use these tips to help babyproof your home.
Adjust Your Water Heater to Babyproof Your Home
Set your water heater to less than 120 degrees. Of course, you should always check the temperature of the bathwater before you put your baby in it, but lowering the temperature on your water heater will prevent the possibility of scalding your baby. As your baby gets older, they will be curious and may play with the knobs on your faucets. Lower the temperature to make sure he or she can’t get burned.
Crib Safety
When your baby is a newborn, don’t put any objects into their crib, including blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or bumpers. Use a crib with fixed rails. Make sure your baby’s head doesn’t fit through the bars of the rails. WebMD asserts that if you can fit a soda can through the bars, they are too wide.
Protect Your Baby from Blinds
Another important task to do when you babyproof your home is to tie blind cords up high. Never place your baby’s crib or your toddler’s bed near a window with blinds or drapes. The dangling cords are choking hazards. It’s best to replace all of your blinds with cordless options.
Secure Furniture to Babyproof Your Home
Securing your furniture is an essential step to take when you babyproof your home. You don’t want anything falling onto and injuring your baby when they begin crawling and pulling themselves up. Bolt heavy furniture to the wall. Put soft corner bumpers on any furniture with sharp edges.
Prevent Electrical Shocks
Outlets can be dangerous for curious toddlers. Cover all exposed electrical outlets with outlet covers. Look for childproof outlet covers that require two hands to remove them. Small outlet covers can be a choking hazard if your toddler is able to remove them.
Keep Chemicals Out of Reach
Keep all household chemicals and cleaners in high cabinets, if possible. If you must put cleaners and other household chemicals into low cabinets, protect your baby by installing locks or safety latches on the cabinets.
Use Baby Gates to Babyproof Your Home
Place baby gates at the top and bottom of all the stairways in your home before your baby starts crawling. If there are certain rooms you don’t want your baby exploring, use baby gates to block access. Look for baby gates that attach to the wall securely but won’t pinch your baby’s fingers. WebMD recommends not using accordion-style gates because your baby’s head can get stuck in them.
Having children is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. As a parent, you’ll want to do whatever you can to protect your baby. Use these tips to babyproof your home so you can enjoy more time with your baby and less time worrying about household dangers.
Veriguard Home Inspections offers home inspections to customers in northern New Jersey. Contact us to schedule an appointment.