| Once your child becomes mobile, you start a whole | | | | most remote part of the home, cover them. Every |
| new phase in the life of your home. Gone are the | | | | cupboard that contains anything harmful to your child |
| days of glass vases on the floor and piles of items | | | | or contains things that you don't want thrown all over |
| such as craft supplies or tools lying around waiting to | | | | the floor needs to have a safety latch. Keep one |
| be put away. The fastest way to organization in the | | | | cupboard open and fill it with toys so that it can be |
| home is to bring a crawling baby or toddler into the | | | | your child's cupboard and they can open it whenever |
| picture. | | | | they want to. Place baby gates at the bottom and top |
| When your baby first comes home, you are typically | | | | of steps. Close doors to bathrooms so that they can't |
| worried about such things as what kind of diapers you | | | | get into the tub or toilets. |
| are going to use, which bouncy seat will make them | | | | Crawl around on the floor at your child's level and pick |
| happiest and what kind of eating/sleeping pattern will | | | | up anything that you don't want your child to have. This |
| work best for them. You don't really start to worry | | | | includes any breakables as you can't expect a curious |
| about baby proofing your home until you watch your | | | | child to not touch things and explore their surroundings. |
| child move from point A to point B unassisted. | | | | Anything smaller than a ½ dollar should be out of |
| The day that they crawl across the room or take their | | | | their reach to avoid having them put it in their mouth |
| first step is the day you need to baby proof your | | | | and choking. Photo albums and photos should be out |
| home in every way, shape and form. It only takes | | | | of reach as well or they can become stained, ripped |
| walking into a room to find your child heading toward | | | | or chewed on. If it doesn't have to be out then it is |
| an open wall socket or picking up your favorite antique | | | | probably best to pack it away for now or at least put |
| plate to send you into a panic to make instant changes | | | | it up high out of their reach. |
| in your home. | | | | In addition to these suggestions, you can find other |
| When you baby proof your home, you have to think | | | | baby proofing suggestions and checklists online. Even |
| about baby safety first and home safety second. By | | | | after going through these checklists you have to |
| this I mean think about what can be harmful to your | | | | realize that each home and each child is unique and |
| baby first and what your baby can harm second. | | | | you will probably make more changes as your child |
| The obvious baby safety features you need to start | | | | grows and discovers other things in the home. Keeping |
| with are wall socket covers, cupboard latches and | | | | them safe is of utmost important. You can redecorate |
| baby gates. EVERY socket in your home needs to be | | | | your home when they are older, but for now your job |
| covered with a safety plug. Even if they are in the | | | | is to make their home a safe place to live. |