Baby Proofing: Tips for First Time Parents

What is baby-proofing, and when should it be done?

What needs baby proofing? 

• Keeping all sharp equipment such as razors, scissors, blades, knives, and forks in locked cabinets or drawers. 
• Protect your baby from sharp edges and corners by placing edge and corner bumpers.
• Placing all glass objects, including showpieces and dinnerware, at a height where your child cannot reach them. 
• Keep your dishwasher locked and don't let your baby come near it when in use. 
• Keeping all tools, including gardening and car repair tools, in a locked place.  

• Store all medicines in a locked cabinet. 
• Keep all cleaning supplies and sprays in a locked cabinet. 
• Do not leave your baby unsupervised when you are cleaning or using household chemicals. 
• Do not use rat poison, cockroach-killing powders or pesticides on the floor or furniture.
• Keep alcoholic beverages and any liquids that contain alcohol, including mouthwash, hand sanitiser and perfumes, in a place that your baby cannot reach. 
• Keep toiletries and cosmetics, including nail polish removers, shoe polish and hairspray, out of reach.
• Secure gardening products (such as fertilisers and bug repellent) and car supplies
• Store all batteries out of your baby’s reach and discard them immediately after use.

• Cover all electric sockets with a child-safety cover or tape them.
• Mounting the television on the wall and keeping stereos against the wall, so your baby cannot reach behind it. 
• Getting rid of gadgets and appliances with old and damaged cords and wires. 
• If your baby has any electronic toys, check them often for any wear and tear and battery leaks.

• Keep the doors locked and use doorknob covers so that your baby cannot enter a room that contains objects that are harmful to them. 
• If you have a staircase in your house, use a safety gate to prevent your child from falling down the stairs. 
• You can also use safety gates in other areas of the house that you do not want your baby to enter. 
• Use a safety net or window guard for the windows to prevent your baby from falling out the window. 
• If you have window blinds, either keep their cord out of reach of your baby or replace the blinds with curtains or cordless blinds, as the cord is a choking hazard.

5. Cupboards
Lock the cupboards, cabinets and drawers in the entire house to prevent poisoning or physical accidents. Locking these will prevent your baby from getting their hands on harmful substances such as medicines, cleaning supplies, kitchen tools, and cigarettes. Even items that have child-resistant packaging should be kept out of reach of children. 

6. Bathrooms
To prevent accidents that happen in a bathroom:

• Do not leave a bathtub or bucket filled with water or other liquid. 
• Never leave your baby unattended while bathing them. 

8. Preventing fires and burns

To prevent fires in your house:

• Keep matches, lighters, candles, stoves, hot drinks, iron, heaters and fireplaces away from children.
• Keep a fire escape plan ready and a fire extinguisher handy. 
• Check to see if you have grounded circuit breakers. 
• Avoid bringing your baby into the kitchen when someone is cooking.
• Know where your baby is when you are carrying hot pots or utensils.  

• Keep plastic bags and balloons away from children. 
• Do not use a tablecloth that your child can pull. 
• Do not let your baby near the houseplants as some of them could be poisonous. 
• If you have a bathtub, use a non-skid rubber mat in it to prevent your child from slipping.
• Use door stoppers and finger protection strips on doors to protect your baby’s fingers. 

• Always place your baby to sleep on their back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome. 
• The distance between crib bars should not be more than 6 cm, and there should be no cut-outs in which the baby can get caught. 
• The bars of the crib should not be cracked, splintered, loose or missing screws.
• Choose a firm mattress that fits in the crib perfectly and cover it with a crib sheet that fits it properly. 
• The height of the mattress should be as low as possible once your baby can stand. 
• Do not place any pillows, blankets or soft toys in the crib. 
• Toys that hang above the crib should be removed within five months.

References: 

1. Yale Baby School. How do I “baby proof” my home?.
2. KidsHealth. Household safety: Preventing cuts [2019].
3. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Childproofing your home- 12 safety devices to protect your children.
4. KidsHealth. Household safety: Preventing poisoning [2020]. 
5. FamilyDoctor.org. Child safety: Keeping your home safe for your baby [2019]. 
6. KidsHealth. Household safety: Preventing injuries in the crib [2019].