As you approach your due date and finish up on the last-minute details, many new parents and caregivers often forget about baby-proofing. Baby-proofing may seem overwhelming with all the gadgets and gizmos you need, but they help keep your little one safe. And even though your newborn will not be able to crawl or walk immediately, time flies during the first year, so it’s best to get a head start and baby-proof before your bundle of joy’s arrival. Here are some tips if you need to finish some quick, last-minute baby-proofing ideas.
Block Open Outlets
If you are out of time on baby-proofing and need a last-minute idea, you can move heavy furniture in front of outlets, reports The Bump. While that may not work for all outlets, you need to first cover any outlets at the floor level. But be aware that heavy furniture must also be anchored into the wall to prevent the furniture piece from falling should your child decide to climb on it as they get older. Your best, and safest, bet would be to buy outlet covers, which you can find on Amazon or big retail stores, like Target or Walmart.
Cover Sharp Edges & Corners
Your little one will be up and moving around before you know it, so they will be falling and colliding with objects as they learn. Some of those items may have corners or sharp edges, and they need to be covered to prevent serious injury from happening. According to Parents, you can quickly add stick-on corner cards, or you can cut open a pool noodle, and stick it on the corners using double-sided tape.
Lock Up Medications & Cleaners
It can be easy to overlook locking up things in the bathroom, such as medications and cleaning supplies. Dr. Johnson Arbor says parents and caregivers don’t always think like children do when it comes to poison prevention and childproofing. Many household items, like laundry pods, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes may seem appealing to your little one, but if ingested, it can lead to a dangerous outcome. Keep all medications and cleaners out of reach. Lock up the medicine cabinet and the storage area where you keep your cleaners. If you keep these items in a bathroom pantry, you can look into childproof doorknob covers.
Secure Heavy Objects
While there’s not exactly a fast way to secure heavy options, it is vital it gets done before your little one arrives. You can find zip-tie anchors on Amazon that work quickly when needing to secure a dresser or other heavy piece of furniture. When your baby starts crawling and walking, they will attempt to pull themselves up, so you need to baby-proof by ensuring furniture is anchored to the wall to prevent it from falling. Zip-tie anchors are great because they save you time when are unable to use tools.
Lock All Cabinets
One of the best tips for baby-proofing is to get on your child’s level to see what they can see. That may be difficult when you are nine months pregnant, but you get the idea! Take a look around at what’s low to the ground. Those lower kitchen cabinets need to be locked up, especially if they hold items like glass or sharp objects.
Window Blinds
Meghann Wellard, a Maryland pediatric nurse practitioner, told TODAY that no matter how many times you tell a child not to, they love to put things around their neck. She urges parents and caregivers to keep blind cords out of reach of small children. Don’t have time to replace the blinds? That’s okay! Get a pack of blind cord safety wraps or winder. This will allow you to wrap the cord blind up high and out of reach, keeping your little one safe.
Make Them A Safe Space
There is a lot to do when it comes to baby-proofing. You may not have time to get it all done, so if you are needing something very quick and efficient, create a safe space for your child. You can buy a playpen or baby gates to create one and let that be an area your baby spends time in that is 100 percent safe.
According to The Island Now, this space will be one that’s comforting and a place to rest or have fun. You can turn it into a reading space or just a free area for your little one to roam in. You can also buy doorknob covers to put on rooms around your home you don’t have time to baby-proof yet. Creating a safe environment for your baby will give you peace of mind, keep your little one safe, and help them grow up to be strong and healthy.
Sources: The Bump, Parents, TODAY, The Island Now