Right before I became pregnant, my husband and I had purchased a new construction carriage home. It was beautiful with 3 bedrooms, 2 and a half baths, second floor laundry, and a low maintenance yard. It was the perfect place to start a family. (Little did we know we were going to be pregnant with twins, but that is an entirely different blog post!)
Once the home was built, we realized there were some features of the house that probably weren’t so great for little, curious minds. For one, the foyer was two story with a simple little banister to keep one from falling. For another, we had a finished basement that was open to the first floor with no door to keep a little one from entering. We immediately turned our attention from home decorating to babyproofing! Below are a few tips to get your started on your babyproofing journey:
· Electrical sockets. This is the first thing we tackled and it was a very inexpensive fix. Purchase and install outlet covers on all electrical sockets that are within a little ones reach. Example: Outlet Covers.
· Stairs/Doorways. Here is where we had to be a little creative. Since we had a dog and a cat who needed access to the house (for water, potty, etc.) we decided to purchase a pet gate. Example: Pet Gate. Don’t have pets? There are plenty of gates to choose from in all different sizes to fit all widths. Example: Gates.
· Cabinets and drawers. Keep little ones out of the cabinets and away from everyday household items by using locks and latches. There are many different styles and solutions to almost every type of cabinet, drawer, etc. Example: Locks and Latches.
· Appliances. Make sure you install an anti-tip bracket and knob covers on your stove! Example: Bracket and Knob Covers.
· Blinds. Many deaths occur each year due to cord strangulation but this can be prevented by installing cordless blinds or using a cord wind up device. Example: Wind Up Device
· Bathtub spouts. Ensure the safety of your child's head by installing a cover over the spout. Example: Spout Cover.
· Door stoppers. This one we learned the hard way. Take a look at your door stoppers. Is there a little white cap on the front? Kids LOVE to play with these and these caps can easily come off and go right into a child's mouth! Replace those with a solid stopper. Example: Door Stop.
This is just a short list of some of the items needed to baby proof your home. Feeling a little overwhelmed? Then consult a professional babyproofer! If you live here in the Richmond, Virginia area, you can contact: BabyProofing Richmond for a consultation on what you should do to keep your children safe and sound in your home!
Is your nest growing and you need more space? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan, at Home Sweet Henrico and let me light your way to Home Sweet Home in Henrico County and the surrounding Richmond area.
No comments:
Post a Comment