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You thought you were safe from child-proofing the house for a few more weeks then all of a sudden little Rosie decides to roll-over, which means crawling and exploring little cracks and crevices isn't far behind. First, don't panic! You don't have to get rid of all the furniture in the house and duct tape the corners of the coffee table to survive the next few years. Second, take a look around your house and make note of what items could provide a potential safety hazard to your child, such as, electrical outlets within little hands reach, heavy furniture that could topple over because it's not bolted to the wall, sharp edges on corners of furniture (particularly coffee tables and dining room tables are the most common for kids to get hurt on), staircases where you may need to install gates, and any cords or power strips that may be exposed (by TVs or computers, etc.).
Once your list is compiled and you've noted how many items you need, you can start shopping for your safety items. While we're all familiar with the big plastic white gates and cabinet locks that you can find easily at the local hardware store, most of us don't want to be looking at that for the next few years. All I can say is thank goodness for stylish child-proofing. In honor of National Safety Month, here's a look at the top five stylish child-proofing items to keep you and your baby safe now and for years to come!
Outlet Covers: You should cover any outlet that can be reached by your child either crawling at ground-level or standing up and walking. Babies are very curious by nature and will try and try with all their might to get off these covers but thank goodness their chubby little fingers don't yet have the hand-eye coordination to actually succeed. While the typical cover is definitely functional, we want style, so my pick is the Animal Plug Safety Covers, $4.99 for a pack of 8, at amazon.com.
Safety Gate: If you have stairs in your house then you definitely need some sort of safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs to prevent your little one from falling down and then as they grow older, to keep from escaping to other areas of the house as you take a shower! Depending on the configuration of your staircase (whether it's at an angle, etc.), you may need to custom order a gate or add extenders to fit properly in the space. Gates can also be used to block off other areas of the house like the kitchen or other room where it may not be safe for baby to in. For a stylish solution, try the Munchkin Loft Dark Wood Infant Safety Gate, $126.99, at amazon.com.
Cabinet Locks: These little locks are the most common items that parents forget to install but also one of the most important, especially on cabinets that contain household cleaning supplies, anything that could shatter such as glasses or plates, medicines or anything that could be potentially poisonous and opened and swallowed. It's okay to leave the Tubberware cabinet unlocked if you want baby to have a cabinet that they can open while you're in the kitchen together but make sure to remind yourself and others in the house to relock a cabinet once they open it to prevent any potential accidents. For a stylish solution to the cabinet lock dilemma, try the Rhoost Sling, $9.99 for a 4 pack, at rhoost.com (they come in both black and brown).
Cord Covers: Long exposed cords are especially dangerous to babies and young kids as they could potentially wrap the cord around their neck causing strangulation. To avoid this, please check all areas where you have low-lying electronics with cords. For these areas, use cord wraps to cover the exposed cords and keep little fingers from prying. The XL Cable Organizer, $14.99, at containerstore.com, is a great option for those not looking for something bulky to hid the cords.
Table Edgers: Sharp corners on low-lying furniture like coffee tables, fireplaces, kitchen islands and dining room tables are potential hazards for babies as they're first crawling and learning to walk, as we know they are very clumsy as they take those first steps. Avoid any serious head injuries (the last thing you need right now is a trip to the ER) with the installation of table edgers that cushion the sharp corners so no-one gets hurt. Again, I have to give the stylish solution to Rhoost Edge, $14.99 for a 4-pack, at rhoost.com (comes in plum, brown and black), because they are screw-free and adhesive-free so they won't ruin your furniture once you're done with them.
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