Top Tips for Child-Proofing Your Home

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Baby on The Way? Top Tips for Child-Proofing Your Home

Getting the news that a baby is on the way is one of the most joyful moments in life, whether you’re the expectant parent, grandparent, or a very excited aunt or uncle.

As everyone who’s been through it knows, though, there is a lot to do before the arrival of the little one: you need to prepare the nursery, stock up on nappies, and start the process of child-proofing your home.

With this in mind, FBD Insurance has rounded up five of the most common ways to make your home safe for inquisitive little hands. 

Check the basics

All houses should have basic safeguards, such as fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers.

Take some time to thoroughly inspect these and ensure they’re all in full working order, with new batteries and up-to-date inspections.

Many household appliances, such as boilers or stoves, need to be serviced regularly, so now’s the time to make those appointments.

Windows and doors should be secure (although also primed for easy escape in the event of fire), so it’s a good idea to work your way around the house, trying all the locks to ensure they’re functioning.  

The HSE has a very handy checklist to help guide you as you go. 

Additionally, it may be a good time to review your home insurance policy to ensure you are protected in case of an emergency.

Put everything up and away.

One of the simplest ways to keep dangerous items out of children’s reach is to place them at a higher level.

Clear out tall cupboards or install shelves to place dangerous items, such as cleaning fluids, medicines, or choking hazards, safely out of reach.

It’s also a good idea to install hooks in the hallway for handbags and laptop bags, so they can be easily hung when visitors arrive.

Apart from the dangerous items these bags could contain, you might be glad you kept them away from curious little ones who are fond of ‘experimenting’ with lipstick or pens on your walls.

Go down to their level.

The best way to get a sense of the areas and items that need to be safeguarded is to get on your hands and knees and see your home from a baby’s or toddler’s perspective.

When you’re close to the ground, that coffee table might look less stylish and more dangerous with its sharp edges.

You might even notice that cord swinging from a blind, the extension cable that curls around a lamp, or the slightly loose electrical socket you never got around to tightening.

Going through this process in every room will help you see potential dangers before the little one does.

Get the right gadgets.

A range of specially-designed items can help you keep children safe around the home.

These include cupboard latches, toilet locks, socket covers, fireguards and corner cushions.

While none of them is the perfect solution – children can become expert engineers when faced with a locked fridge – they can help give you peace of mind if your back is turned for a minute.

There are also lots of baby-proofing kits on the market now, which make for a thoughtful gift for a baby shower or celebration.

There are higher-tech solutions, too, such as motion sensors and movement monitors, but it’s best to start with the basics.

Safety.com recently selected its top ten baby-proofing products for 2020, which might help you narrow down the many choices available. 

Let them explore safely.

As soon as they can wriggle and roll, babies start to explore.

They’re curious about their environment and want to inspect and understand every corner of the home, from the toy box to the television to the socket.

It’s up to us to give them space to wander while also ensuring they’re protected from danger.

Safety gates are key to blocking access to stairs and unsafe spaces around the house, such as kitchens, utility rooms, or bathrooms.

Children also like to pull themselves up (to better survey their empire!) and will often reach for whatever’s nearby, including bookcases or TV stands, so these need to be secured to a wall. 

You can also consider furniture that is safe for all humans, like this rocking chair.

As the babies grow from wobblers to toddlers, you’ll need to review the child-proofing measures in your home, adapting to their increased height and newly learned skills. 

By the time they’re strapping teenagers, you’ll have many other challenges to worry about, and you’ll probably need much more than a safety gate to keep them in at night!