The only thing almost as exciting as having a new baby is preparing for his or her arrival, from buying the outfits and the crib, to re-arranging your home to welcome your newest family member. Remember that proper planning for your child means knowing where and what to baby-proof. Every room in your home can present some kind of safety hazard for babies. Let’s go around the house and see the best ways you can make each area safe for your new baby:<\/p>\n
\nBathroom<\/strong> \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Purchase a water thermometer so that you know exactly how warm the water in your tub is. In addition, set the water heater to go no higher than 120 F. \nBaby’s Nursery<\/strong> \nKitchen<\/strong> \nStairway<\/strong> \nLiving Room<\/strong> \nSafety First<\/strong>
\nThis is one place that can be dangerous even without a baby involved.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Change all your floor mats to non-slip ones. When you carry your baby, you need to be safe, too.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Put all medicines in high cabinets out of reach of children.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Make sure your baby’s crib adheres to safety standards. Don’t place any stuffed toys in the crib, as they can become suffocation hazards. In addition, hanging mobiles should not be within baby’s reach.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Invest in a cordless baby monitor, as cords can become a safety hazard.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Open boxes that won’t slam shut are optimal for tiny fingers.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Use stove knob covers to ensure that no little hands can twist the stove on.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Put any pet food away, out of baby’s reach.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, but not within the reach of babies or kids. A childproof cabinet installation is a good idea.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Lock any low cupboards and cabinets where you store cleaning liquids and other chemicals. Otherwise, put them safely up high, out of children’s reach.<\/p>\n
\nInstall safety gates both above and below the staircase. They should be fixed with locks for guaranteed safety.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0If your blinds have hanging cords, tie them up out of reach of children. Otherwise, exchange your curtains for cordless ones.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Trade in sharp-edged tables for round ones, or purchase corner bumpers in a hardware store. You can stick on the corner bumpers when your baby is old enough to start crawling and bumping into things.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Move any glass or breakable decorations out of the way. These include low-hanging wine racks that could become a safety hazard.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Make sure electric cords are well out of reach of children. Plug up electric sockets with a safety cover.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0If your living room has a fireplace, install a safety gate.<\/p>\n
\nAfter you have done everything you can to ensure your children’s safety, the final and most important thing to be done is to secure health insurance for your children<\/a>. Even if you’ve done everything you can to avoid accidents and prevent serious injury, it’s hard to predict when an emergency may take place.<\/p>\n