BABY PROOFING GUIDE FOR 2020

BABY PROOFING GUIDE FOR 2020

We've compiled a list of the 10 best baby proofing musts for your home in 2020.

Below are some of the most common hazards found in homes, and all of these potential threats can be fixed with it's own baby proofing list of products.

Having a safe space for your baby or toddler to play means you’re not always having to say no. We all know that if you turn away for just a second, your little one can get into all kinds of mischief, and sometimes worse.

For parents-to-be and new parents, it can be an overwhelming task to look around and spot potential threats that could make it hard to to keep baby safe at home. Do a simple online search for the best baby proofing products, and you can easily get lost in the endless baby proofing list of "must-have" baby proofing products for the home.

You may be wondering... do I really need to baby proof my home?

The simple answer is YES, however don't be overwhelmed, and don't feel that you need to buy anything and everything on the market. follow the suggestions in this baby proofing guide and you'll be one your way to a safer home for your child.

Take a deep breath and have a look at our baby proofing guide below.

1. ADJUST YOUR HOT WATER THERMOSTAT SETTINGS

With the wandering hands of babies, we'd suggest to ensure that your hot-water heater is set to less than 120 degrees to offset the wors case scenarios.

At around the age of round 15 months, toddlers are mobile and become incredibly curious, wanting to touch, turn and pull everything. This of course can include turning on the hot water tap, potentially burning themselves. There are so many burns in the emergency room caused by kids playing in bathrooms that could have been prevent, however if the hot water thermostat in your home is set below than 120 degrees, the water will simply not be hot enough to cause burns.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the majority of injuries and deaths from tap-water scalds involve the elderly and children under the age of five.

You should always be present with your child in the bathroom, as leaving your child alone for any period of time can potentially result in serious injury.

Here you can see a full range of baby proofing bath products.

2. LOCK YOUR BATHROOM DOORS

Bathrooms are an area of the home where injury can occur very easily, and toddlers and babies can drown in just a few inches of water when unsupervised.

Babies and toddlers are drawn to opening bathroom drawers and cabinets, which are often filled with hazardous chemicals and medications.

Nearly 90 children drown inside American homes each year, making it important to keep bathroom doors locked and toilet covers secured with child-proofing products that will prevent your baby from opening drawers and cupboards.

Toddlers eventually learn how to open regular doors using the knob, so it is important to have baby proof drawer locks or door knob to keep them on the outside.

3. KEEP NAP AND SLEEP TIME SAFE IN THE CRIB

In 2015 it was estimated that there were 12,100 emergency-department-treated injuries to children younger than age five that were linked to cribs and crib mattresses.

To prevent injury or possible death in the crib, be aware of the proper crib-rail height for your baby's age.

When they are newborns, it is recommended to have the crib raised to the highest setting, however, as soon as they grow and are able to pull themselves into a standing position, it is advised to set the rails to the lowest level, otherwise they can pull themselves up and potentially injure themselves trying to climb out over a high railing.

It is also advised to no place objects in the crib with your baby as they do not need blankets and pillows, two of the biggest hazards. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends "absolutely nothing be in or near baby's crib. "No crib bumpers — even the breathable ones — because they can come off and get tangled up."

4. SECURE TIPPING HAZARDS AROUND YOUR HOME

At around the age of 6-months, babies start to frequently move, roll and play on the floor. It's at the start of this time that parents should get low on the ground, looking around from the babies point of view.

From down on the ground, you'll be able to see all of the things that could be pulled or pushed, including televisions, cabinets and bookshelves.

By 9-months, a baby can begin pulling and pushing furniture, which is the time that you should start to anchor potential tipping hazards such as televisions and shelves to the wall.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a child dies every 3-weeks from a tipping television.

Safety straps like the ones pictured below are perfect for anchoring televisions, bookshelves and cabinets.

5. SECURE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND CORDS

The number of child deaths as a result of electrocution is unfortunately much higher than it needs to be.

We often think that we have our eyes on our kids at all times, however sometimes we forget that they need just a second and an inch to get into spaces where they can get into trouble.

At around 15-months little ones become very interested in inserting things into nooks and crannies, and this includes electrical sockets.

With electrical sockets and outlets generally low to the ground and well within reach of a crawling baby, it is very important to install electrical plugs that prevent your child inserting little fingers or objects into the holes.

View all electrical safety products for kids.

One of the best electrical socket plugs can be seen below.

6. SECURE BLINDS AND CURTAINS

As many times as you tell toddlers and kids not to put cords around their neck, it goes in one ear and out the other.

Parents should check all window coverings in their home, replacing window blinds cords with cordless options, or by installing a window covering cord protection product.

Approximately one child per month dies after becoming entangled and ultimately strangled by a blind or curtain cord.

The best solution is to install a cordless blind option, however if this is not possible, there are many safety products for window cords on the market that can be easily installed to negate the risks involved.

One of the best products on the market is below. View all safety products for blinds and curtains.

7. BLOCK THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF YOUR STAIRS

When you baby begins to crawl at around the 6-month mark, it is vital to secure the areas around stairways, placing hardware-mounted safety gates at the tops of stairs, and locking doors that lead to staircases.

Hardware-mounted stair gates have many benefits. They won't fall down and are fixed in place by screws and brackets to the wall itself.

You can leave the gate open when not being used, and it doesn’t have that annoying bar at the of the gate that you might stub your toe on or trip over. See all baby gates available.

Below is one of the best hardware-mounted stair gates for kids.

8. KEEP HANDS OUT OF DRAWERS AND CABINETS

Among the top five products related in child poisoning incidents are laundry pods.

Make sure to lock the cabinets and keep things up high and out of reach of your child.

Once your little one baby starts standing and climbing storing potentially dangerous items such as pills and medication (which can be mistaken for candy) on higher shelves won't keep them safe. The best option is to always lock your drawers and cabinets, however if this is not possible, there are plenty of drawer and cabinet locks available.

Toddlers and babies are curious and love to open whatever they can and it only takes a split second for mistakes to happen.

These are a great options that work to keep them locked out even when they’re older. Check out all cabinet and drawer locks.

9. CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUR BABY TO PLAY

Creating a secure play space for your child with all of their favorite toys is a great way to keep them in a safe space.

You'll need something that keeps your child unable to wander while you're making dinner or doing the laundry that keeps them busy, content, and safe — these freestanding baby gates fit the bill perfectly.

Freestanding baby gates can be folded up and moved through different areas of your home and can also be extended outward to block areas such as fireplaces and entertainment areas.

A freestanding colorful baby gate like the one below is perfect for inside and outside, and the vibrant colors will make the space seem fun for your child.

10. PROTECT SHARP TABLE CORNERS

I can seem like babies are magnets for sharp corners, so you may want to grab corner guards that will prevent bumps, bruises and cuts.

Although the thought of putting soft baby bumpers on the corners of a your tables might feel like it could ruin the look of your furniture, they are a must, and aren't as ugly as you may think.

You might even find that you save your own legs a few times!

View a full range of furniture safety products for kids here.

Below are transparent table corner guards for babies that are easy to install, and easily removed without damage to your furniture once no longer required.