If you are getting ready to have your first child, then it is time to start thinking about baby-proofing your home. Your child will experience the occasional cut or bruise, but you want to be sure that they aren’t going to be seriously injured on your property. Here are four tactics you can use to remove some of the biggest threats.
1. Ditch the Chemical Cleaners for Awhile
You might be used to having harsh cleaners under the sink to get rid of the toughest spills, but those need to be gone before your baby gets home. Until your child is slightly older, you should consider switching over to non-toxic cleaners. A few basics ingredients such as vinegar, lemons, sea salt, and baking soda will work wonders on most spills.
2. Partition Your Home
Instead of trying to make every single room in your home as safe as possible, you should begin partitioning off areas where you want to keep the baby out of permanently. In addition to closing doors, you can also invest in gates to limit access to stairs and certain hallways. Many of these gates even have simple latches that you can open with your feet, and that means they won’t be as much of a hassle if your hands are full.
3. Don’t Forget the Yard
As soon as your baby is able to crawl around, you will most likely want to spend some time in the yard with them. Before doing so, you should carefully inspect all of your foliage to make sure there are no hidden dangers. Installing a sturdy fence, like the ones found at Family Fence Company, is another great idea to keep neighborhood pets and unwanted guests off of your property. Families who have pools should have a full fence with a locked gate blocking it off.
4. Look for Choking Hazards
Every few days, parents should spend some time sweeping their property for any choking hazards. You should be able to get rid of most of the small items before your child gets there, but it doesn’t take much for small wrappers and pebbles to find their way into your home. Some of the most common choking hazards include paperclips, pen caps, marbles, and small foods such as grapes.
No one will ever be able to keep their child completely safe, but there are some simple steps you can take to remove the worse hazards. Making your home less dangerous will give you one less thing to worry about when you are finally able to bring your bundle of joy through the door for the very first time.