You remember your childhood as you entered kindergarten, learned manners, and made friends with kids around you. But if you go back far enough, you had to start crawling before you could do anything else.
As a new parent, you look at your infant with memories of your own childhood. You want to do everything you can to ensure your baby’s safety while providing them a nourishing learning experience. When it comes to crawling, you might need to consider some specific ways to keep your little one out of danger—even within your own home. Read on to learn how to keep your baby a happy crawler.
Clear Your Floor of Harmful Objects
What might be totally safe to you can be dangerous to your baby. If you decide to let your child crawl around a wide area, make sure the floor is clean and welcoming and remove the following:
- Sharp items like scissors or pencils
- Pet food
- Toiletries
- Cords or wires
- Anything that could cause choking
Be sure to check for any toxic or poisonous materials that could end up in your baby’s mouth like certain plants or electronics. A de-cluttered floor not only welcomes safe crawling, but allows you to do less cleaning later on.
Don’t Let Heavy Items Fall
As babies tend to be curious, they might investigate the contents of a shelf or drawer. But they can also cause a heavy appliance like a TV to fall and cause injury. Don’t let items like computers, telephones, vases, or books lie near the edge of counters or tables.
You can strap down electronics (like televisions) so they won’t budge as your baby interacts with furniture which holds them in place. Don’t let too many of your belongings accumulate on desktops or countertops.
Remove Pests and Bugs
If you suspect your home has an infestation of ants, spiders, cockroaches, or other type of insect, take measures to repel these pests. Keep your food fully sealed inside cupboards and don’t keep open trash bags on your kitchen floor.
If bug problems persist, contact your local pest control company. Talk to an expert about the best way to make your home clean and pest-free. Your baby will be better off crawling on a floor void of potentially harmful or venomous insects or arachnids.
Outfit Your Baby in Crawling Pads
If you don’t have a soft carpet floor, your infant may have an uncomfortable crawl. Shop for baby knee pads to help cushion their soft skin, and protect them from unseen objects like staples or nails. Most crawling pads are designed for easy wear and come in many different colors and styles. Or, if you’d prefer not to buy, you can craft your own pads out of soft, wool socks. Use online or social media resources like Pinterest to find fresh and fun ideas.
When you remember these tips, you’ll create a safe haven for your baby to crawl, roam, and learn about the world around them. You’ll also feel more confidence and joy as a parent watching your child grow.
“Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information on getting a pest free home before baby comes home contact or http://www.bullseyepest.com/ Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.”
