Tips for How to Baby Proof Your New Home

As a new parent, you may be nervous about making your home a safe and comfortable place for your
child. While many parents go out and splurge on the latest and greatest baby monitors and baby gates,
you may not be in a position to make these purchases, especially if you’ve just scoured the market for
the lowest Canadian mortgage rates for your new
home. You needn’t worry, however, because baby proofing your home doesn’t have to be expensive.
Here are some of the cheapest, and most effective, ways to eliminate dangers from the home.

In the bathroom, your little one’s eyes are bound to light up when they come near water or knobs that
look like magic spouts, so baby proofing your bathroom is a no-brainer. Start with the toilet, which
will be within reach once the baby starts to crawl. Put a lid-lock on your toilet seat so that he or she
can’t splash around in the water bowl. Once you’re done there, remember to put covers (which can
be homemade) on the bathtub knobs to deter your little one from turning on the water when they’re
splashing around in the bath.

If your baby has already started to explore, you’ll want to cover all the electric outlets in your home.
You should even move the furniture to seek out those outlets that you may not even remember are
there. Then, even if you think they can’t reach them, put locks on all the windows so that they cannot
be opened. If you have sliding glass doors, put stickers or decals on them so that your children don’t run
into them in a moment of excitement. And for moments when you think he or she is napping but they’re
really up and about, install a baby gate at the top of the stairs to keep him or her from taking a fall.

In the kitchen, never, ever let your child play with pots and pans, or he or she may permanently see
them as toys and be tempted to pull a hot one off the stove. In fact, it is best to not let your child play
anywhere near the stove and to not leave a cooking meal unattended. If you are cooking, try putting the
baby in a playpen or crib and turning on the baby monitor.

Other preventative measures that don’t cost a penny have to do with being conscious of how you go
about your daily routine. For example, don’t leave anything on the stairs to prevent yourself from taking
a tumble with the baby in your arms. Also, you should deter your baby from playing with water in the
bathroom, but also make sure that the water doesn’t get too hot by turning the hot water heater down.

These simple and easy tips prove that you don’t have to burn up your credit card with novelty items to make your home safe.
The key to baby proofing is to think of all the dangerous scenarios that could arise and then come up
with solutions to keep your family happy and healthy.

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