An Essential Checklist for Baby-Proofing Your House

If you are going to keep your infants safe in your home, then it is crucial that you baby proof your home. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention report home accidents as the leading cause of infant deaths around the country. As soon as your baby starts crawling, then the likelihood of getting into an accident just shot up. Let this checklist serve as a guide as you make your home conducive and safe for your little infant.

• Cover the edges of your furniture and fittings with safety padding.
• Use childproof latches to secure any cabinets, shelves, drawers, or cupboards that are accessible to the baby; especially the bottom ones.
• Remember to unplug all unused electrical appliances. The electrical cords can become a strangulation hazard in the hands of an 11-month-old.
• Remove all poisonous plants and shrubbery out of the reach of your baby. Crawling infants have been known to attempt chewing on potted plants in the living area.
• Always keep small toys and moving parts out of the reach of the baby, they might end up becoming a choking hazard.
• Don't place your baby in a freshly painted nursery or crib to avoid exposing them to potentially deadly toxicants in the air. Complete all painting and wallpapering at least two months before the baby's arrival.
• Use leather straps to hold TVs, bookshelves, mirrors, and dressers in place to avoid your crawling infant crashing into them.
• Move cleaning supplies, detergents, chemicals from the lower cabinet levels to the higher ones. Also, remember to keep all medicines and drugs safely out of the reach of your infants. Securely lock the liquor cabinet from the baby as alcohol is quite poisonous in infants.
• Make sure that you have a thick piece of rug in the baby's nursery to cushion the effects of any falls. The baby's high chair should also be sturdy enough to carry the weight of the baby without tipping over.
• Get a safety gate and mount at the doorways of rooms that are out of bounds to the baby. You could also place them at entrances leading to the staircases or use stair gates where necessary. 

If you want to learn more about baby proofing your home, get an essential childproofing safety kit from the nearest superstore to you. If your home doesn’t have the perfect nursery, reach out to your real estate professional to see if a home near you does.