For the expectant mother, a cozy home can suddenly morph into a disaster waiting to happen. When did your living room get all those edges? Why are there so many knickknacks lying around? Why didn’t you ever replace that piping?!
Don’t panic. There’s still plenty of time to childproof your home, especially if use the following tips as a guide. Here are five ways to improve the safety of your home before the baby is born.
1: Secure All Electronics
Get rid of all your dangling and tangled cords, especially those behind desks or home theater systems, because a large handful of colorful cords is just begging for the attention of an inquisitive baby. Move your TVs and DVD players away from furniture edges so they can’t be pulled down by accident. Replace or seal all electric sockets with childproof covers.2: Strategically Place Your Baby Monitors
Many parents only have one pair of baby monitors: One for the nursery and one for their bedside table. But does that really give you the scope you need? It’s an investment, but think about buying multiple baby monitors for maximum safety and coverage within your home.3: Buy A Home Security System
Every homeowner should invest in a good home security system, but that need becomes absolutely critical with a baby on the way, especially if you live in a densely-populated or high-crime area. For example, if you’re a mom-to-be expecting a baby Las Vegas, home security systems can make you feel much better about bringing a child into Sin City. Check out sites like www.vivint.com to figure out which system is right for you.4: Soften Edges
What seems like normal furniture to you can actually be quite dangerous for a pint-sized explorer. Go through your home and add safety wedges to anything with a corner or jagged counter top. Install baby bumpers in the crib so there are no unpleasant nighttime accidents. If there’s a room that’s simply too messy or troublesome to baby proof, quarantine it with a baby gate.5: Lock Away Dangerous Items
The cabinet under the sink should have a lock, or at least a childproof mechanism to keep your baby safely out. So should your medicine cabinets and supply closets. Even if you think it’s out of their reach, you never know when something unexpected could happen, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the well-being of your firstborn.
These are just a few tips for improving the safety of your home with a baby on the way. Remember, it’s diligence and precaution that prevails in the end, so don’t drive yourself crazy trying to anticipate everything. Good luck and congratulations!
About the author:
Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn’t writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.
