With around 4 million babies born in the United States every year, it’s likely you or someone close to you will have one someday. Whether or not you’re planning to have a baby, it’s important you know how to baby-proof your home so if you’re ever in need, you’ll have the knowledge to do so. Read this guide to baby-proofing your home for the best tips and tricks on creating a safe and healthy, baby-ready environment.
Regular Maintenance
Taking care of those big-ticket items should happen before anything else. Replace broken windows, check on all home detectors, fix any cracked tiles or ripped carpet, and replace any broken door locks. Another great way to prepare for a baby in your home is to install an air purification system to remove up to 99.9% of dust, mold, viruses, and other allergens from the air in your house. All these preparations should be done before the baby arrives to help keep him or her safe and healthy while in your home.
Kitchen
When the baby in your life starts crawling around, you might start to stress. They can get into basically anything, and everything all of the sudden becomes dangerous. Don’t panic! Invest in child-proof cabinet locks and keep things off the floor. Also, consider knob covers for the stove if they’re accessible when the baby begins standing. When loading and unloading your dishwasher, let the baby pass time in a play-pen or with another family member or friend. This way they won’t get hurt trying to climb onto the door or grab silverware.
Living Room
In the living room, furniture is the biggest danger to babies. You’ll want to cover any sharp edges such as the fireplace base, tables, or the tv stand with corner covers. You’ll also want to make sure your TV is firmly placed on a flat surface or mounted on the wall so it won’t fall over. When thinking about furniture, if you haven’t bought any yet, you’ll want to get some with durable fabric made for everyday wear and tear. Curtains should be tied back so the baby can’t pull them or the curtain rod down. Also, make sure curtains are picked up off the ground. They are electrical hazards and can be choking hazards.
As for the smaller things, ensure all electrical outlets are covered. Kids are curious and love to stick their fingers in places they don’t belong. Speaking of, if you have floor or low wall air vents, it’s good to cover those as well with plastic or mesh vent covers. If you can, have the corners of these covered as well to prevent injury to crawling babies.
Bathroom
Bathrooms oftentimes contain cleaning supplies, makeup, toiletries, and medication. Because of this, the bathroom may need some extra attention during the baby proofing process. All these items should be kept well out of reach, behind cabinets if possible. Cabinets need to be protected by child-proof cabinet locks so the baby can’t open them. Make sure to keep the toilet seat closed and locked as well, as babies could smash their fingers or worse. Also, keep the shower curtain inside the tub or pulled back so the baby can’t pull down the curtain or the shower rod. Lastly, keep trash out of reach.
Nursery
In the nursery, functionality is key. There doesn’t need to be any unnecessary decoration on shelving or countertops, and try to keep any wall decor to a minimum, especially around the crib. If the crib rocks, ensure there is a locking mechanism to keep the baby from falling if they stand up while you’re not in the room. Keep clothes and toys put away in the closet when they’re not being used, and close the door. Make sure you keep an eye on babies playing with toys to lessen risk of choking or injury. For a baby, make sure toys are age appropriate. Lastly, be sure to keep a night light in the nursery.
To keep the nursery at the perfect temperature, many parents opt for a zoned HVAC system or choose to install a mini split system in the room for ultimate comfort control. Babies need to sleep at slightly warmer temperatures and with proper humidity and ventilation. Contact us today to discuss outfitting your nursery with a great HVAC comfort system.
Other Rooms
Taking time to focus on every room of your home is important when a baby is coming. For the laundry room and garage, make sure the door is kept closed basically at all times. If you’re in the space, put the child somewhere safe where they cannot get into the laundry room or garage.
For any rooms that are off limits that don’t have doors, such as the formal living room or even the stairs, place a safety gate to keep the baby out. Regularly clean the floors to make sure there is nothing they can pick up and eat that they shouldn’t. Lock any cabinets containing dangerous chemicals, store batteries in a safe place, and keep cosmetics and shampoos out of reach as all these things could be poisonous to children.
Learn More
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Climatech of Professional Air is your local independently owned American Standard Customer Care Dealer in Pensacola, FL. We make recommendations on a home-by-home basis to ensure you have the right system for your home, family, and budget. For more information, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at (850) 857-4700.
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