I’m not sure there actually is such a thing as baby proofing your house but it is something we get asked about quite a lot. In my opinion you fall in to one of two camps. Those that put safety catches on everything and banish all hard corners or those that take a more relaxed approach and hope the child learns. I definitely fell in to the latter.
This may seem a little bit careless to some but they have survived and I had none of those annoying cupboard catches to constantly try and open. That’s not to say we didn’t buy it. Edd got all manner of baby proofing devices but we didn’t use many of them. There were a few key things we made sure were in place like stair gates and plug socket covers but the rest was a case of telling the girls ‘no’ and them learning from our cues.
It seems the rest of the team were quite similar and didn’t really buy many gadgets and gizmos to help baby proof their own homes. We mainly took the ‘tell them no’ route and in truth were always nearby to avoid any major incidents.
I also don’t think you can baby proof everything. The biggest bumps the girls have had were on doors and I couldn’t really remove them or falling down the stairs once they were big enough for us not to have stairgates any more. In the main they have come through unscathed. However, in the interest of helping you guys decide which route you are going to take I thought it would be useful to list some of the safety precautions that the team have used around their houses.
Stair Gates
This is probably the best investment we made. Not always so much from the perspective of worrying about them falling down the stairs but more to stop them escaping and causing havoc upstairs! It’s up to you whether you have one stair gate at the bottom or if you also add another at the top for when you are upstairs. You do get very used to opening and shutting them. Obviously if you live in an apartment like Fern you probably won’t need one. Charlotte however said “Stair gates are absolutely necessary with Mabel – she is a walking nightmare. Completely fearless. She likes to “play” on the stairs – recently she tried to show me how she could walk down them backwards. I put the stair gate on at night just for piece of mind.”
Plug Socket Covers
I’m just updating this section in light of some comments from our lovely readers (see below). I hadn’t been aware that these plastic covers are potentially more dangerous than non at all. There are lots of articles if you google it but this one was particularly useful.
Door Catches
There are all manner of different door catches that you can buy to stop toddlers opening them. I would probably only buy them for those cupboards that contain breakables or cleaning products. I will say that after the 100th time, in one day, of asking Alice to stop emptying all the bowls and plates out that I seriously considered adding these. More for my sanity than anything else. The only cupboard we did add a lock too was in the utility where we kept cleaning products.
Keeping Things High
Not so much something you can buy but a piece of advice. Make sure you keep anything dangerous up out of harm’s way. Whether that is bottles of bleach or sharp knives. Ideally you want it all situated as high as possible away from grasping hands. This isn’t even restricted to babies and toddlers. The girls now reach in to the cutlery drawer to get their own spoons so I’ve had to make sure there are no sharp knives or scissors that they could pick up instead.
Fire Guard
We have a big wood burner in our snug/playroom and for the last five years it has been covered by a massive wrought iron fireguard that was attached to the fireplace with hooks. This was to make sure it couldn’t fall over. It wasn’t as aesthetically pleasing as the fire but those things get hot and it wasn’t worth the risk. This winter we have removed it but I’m still quite nervous. The girls know not to go near it but I’m scared they might trip and fall on it so let’s see how long it stays off for.
Door Finger Guards & Stoppers
These guards are handy to avoid fingers being slammed in doors or drawers and causing serious damage.You can also buy stoppers for main doors to stop fingers getting stuck.
Sharp Corners
If you have a house with copious amounts of sharp corners you might want to consider getting some of the covers for the edges. I didn’t bother with these and the girls never had any major accidents. They still managed the odd bump on rounded corners during those wobbly first steps and still regularly bash themselves on our round coffee table so I guess no edge is really that safe.
Windows
Once they get a bit bigger make sure you keep windows locked or secured with a catch. In Alice’s room her window goes straight on to a flat roof. Excellent for sneaking out to teenage parties but not so good for inquisitive three year olds.
Floors
Lolly has super shiny slippy floors but has just let Hector get on with it. I think he rather enjoys the speed with which his cars fly across the lounge!
Valuables
More for you than baby but make sure you put anything valuable or breakable up high and out of reach. You don’t want that family heirloom broken or your husband’s beloved speaker system (yep that’s mine!) being ruined.
Blind Cords
Make sure any blind cords comply with regulations and are tied up and out of your baby’s reach.
Secure Furniture
Most little ones like to pull themselves up on furniture. Make sure anything unstable is secured to avoid it toppling on to them.
Finally, remember that accidents do happen. Our kids have all had them so don’t panic!
If you want to learn more about the RMLtd business and how Charlotte manages it all then head over to Rock My Style where she is answering all your questions. Tomorrow she will be here on Rock My family discussing all the questions on family matters so do check back.
We tried baby proofing and gave up, clear sticky corner protector kept falling off and we broke several of the cupboard locks! We’ve only got the one on the Kitchen cupboard with the cleaning materials. We let her play with some of the cupboards and once she knew what was in them she left them alone. Our one discovery was cordless easy touch blinds from Dunelm mill. It means we can tilt it still but not worry about the cords. A must ever since someone came out a cot. I was bit weary of them at first but have to say hands on best purchase we made!
Ha ha Serena. This sounds a bit like us. I am definitely checking out those blinds. Thanks for the tip xx
We have a fairly minimal, clutter-free home and never bothered with masses of baby proofing. (Although our sharp cornered coffee table was perfect crawling navy head smash height so that went into storage for a while). I do however believe in trying to create “yes” spaces, so reducing things that are potentially unsafe or off limits so that infants are free to explore and learn about their environment with minimal intervention to foster a sense of autonomy. So for example we put a catch in the cupboard under the sink but Fern was free to poke about on the Tupperware/pan drawers. When we moved house when she was 20 months, we didn’t bother to put catches on in the new house and she’s never shown much interest in the cupboard under the sink. Except to point to the bleach and say “that’s Nanny’s” (my Mum has a thing for soaking dishcloths in bleach).
Fern was also obsessed with pulling CDs out of the rack and ripping magazines that were on the coffee table so those went too. We moved from a bungalow to a house so she wasn’t used to stairs so have installed stair gates. But these things all connect to trying to create “yes” spaces rather than police her every move. I have to say at 25 months she’s now pretty good around the house. We recently installed a multifuel stove and while I’ve been fannying around trying to select the perfect unobtrusive fireguard, she’s been busy proving to me that we don’t actually need one as she’s very careful and mindful of the fire and we never leave her in there unsupervised with it .
One thing I’d like to highlight is that it is now widely recognised that using plug socket covers is actually LESS safe than having uncovered sockets. A quick google search will bring up masses of information and resources to support this.
I think baby proofing is like all aspects of parenting, the best you can do is strive for a balance, being mindful and minimising risk while not going overboard!!
That’s so interesting on the plug sockets, just been reading up. Wish I’d known that before I bothered with them. I absolutely love your idea of ‘yes’ spaces rather than the ‘don’t touch that’ or ‘stop’ as was often the case in my house. It is such a lovely positive reenforcement and it is obviously working really well with Fern. Also, what is it with Nans and bleach?!! x
We haven’t bothered with lots of things like safety catches on cupboards or a fire guard. We’ve taught him its hot and would never leave him alone in the sitting room with the fire. We have put a stair gate at the top on the landing so he can safely play in his room without venturing near the stairs.
You’re apparently actually not supposed to use those plug socket fillers – apparently they’re more dangerous than not using them. Worth looking up if you’re considering using them.
There are some things clearly which are out of harms way – like you say sharp knives. It’s small choking size things that worry me the most. I’m much more relaxed about him falling over on our hard floors – happens A LOT – than him getting hold of something tiny.
I do think if you wrap them up in cotton wool then they won’t learn what’s dangerous or not. Teaching them from a very young age I think personally is better than bubble wrapping the house. If you then go somewhere not 100% baby proofed – grandparents, friends houses, cafes etc, it makes it so much harder if your little one doesn’t know to stay away from things! But just my opinion!
Victoria I am completely with you on this. We very much took the same view that you can’t keep them safe from everything all the time and Edd especially is of the mindset that they will learn not to do it again. I think it’s a bit of a balancing act but as you say there are so many other things that are potentially more dangerous. xx
I was also coming on to post about the plug socket covers but people got here before me which is good.
The only baby proofing we’ve really done is to put a stair gate at the top of the stairs. The bottom isn’t so bad – I don’t mind her playing on the last couple of steps and practicing coming back down again, and if I’m not able to supervise then I’ll shut them in whichever room I’m in, but she does like to make a race for the stairs when I’m trying to have a wee which isn’t ideal.
Oh, and I’ve covered my very expensive sofa with a throw. Because children are extremely grimy. Baby proofing the sofa from the baby rather than the other way around ?
We went with the “teach them no” approach too, as it seems to make much more sense in the long run. I also really agree with the above comment about spending time at other people’s houses, as you can’t expect everywhere you go to be baby-proofed once you leave your own home!
With that in mind, another point worth mentioning is tablets, particularly at grandparent houses where they take regular tablets for various ailments so these quickly found a new home up high, rather than the coffee table within easy reach.
Another one for minimal proofing and maximum teaching here. We also don’t have a stair gate- the house is very old and the stairs are so wide it was an absolute nightmare to find one to fit. She has one on her bedroom door now she is in a bed she can get out of, but in spite of many many remarks from both grandmas she is incredibly careful and sensible and walks down slowly holding the banister or your hand. We do have a fire guard though, ugly as it is!
Oh lucky you having a careful child! I used to have to go and sit in my bedroom when my elder was traversing the stairs – not only did the sight of it make me feel a bit ill with fear but also if I went near her when she was doing it she would giggle maniacally and try to run down the stairs, thinking I was going to catch her. I reasoned that it would actually be safer to leave her to it than try to help.
Stair gates and some of those foam mats for hard floors were our essentials. We found our home went through different baby proofing tactics at different stages of their development e.g. buying a rug for the the wooden floor when they were learning to sit up but then moving it when they were wanting to push walkers up and down, moving the cat food and water bowl when they were inquisitive but it’s fine to be left out now etc etc. Also I wouldn’t waste money on those foam door stoppers as ours ripped after a while, all you need is to throw a tea towel or something over it.
Also meant to say the worst thing is things with button batteries in – so dangerous and scary! Grandparents hearing aids is a culprit and birthdays cards that sing.
RMF I know you’ve mentioned it before but maybe something to flag up again!
Perfect timing! My 8 month old son has just started crawling and trying to pull himself up on the furniture. It certainly keeps me on my toes! I’m trying to find the balance between giving him the freedom to explore and practice his skills and preventing injury- I’m not always succeeding. I’ve not done much baby proofing yet, but I did just by a baby jail from Aldi (https://www.aldi.co.uk/mamia-playpen/p/074807103861800) just so I’ve got somewhere safe to put him if I have to leave him unattended for a short while. We’ve also just decided to carpet our living room as skiddy laminate flooring is proofing a bit tricky for him, plus it is hideous 🙂
we haven’t gone mad for baby proofing but have statue gates and the top and bottom and a lock on the cupboard with the cleaning products. We didn’t originally have this but then when our eldest was 3 (i.e. Well past the putting everything in his mouth stage) he took it upon himself to eat a dishwasher tablet. To this day I’ve not been able to work out what made him do it. They were up high (although obviously not high enough), they were in a different room to where he was and they weren’t in a see through box. We obviously had a very worrying trip to hospital but all was fine. Since then I’ve only bought powder and it’s always locked away.
The point I’m making really is whilst a agree with the telling them no approach sometimes they will just do something that no one could have predicted and locking away cleaning products was something really easy that we could have done to prevent a potentially nasty accident.
Does anyone have any tips on cat proofing for a baby??
I’m expecting in June and wondering how on earth to keep the cats from jumping into the moses basket/crib? The cats sleep in our room, and keeping them out will be totally unsuccessful.
And then later, how to keep the cats out of the nursery?
xx
Sarah you can get cat nets that go over the moses basket:
https://www.tesco.com/direct/clippasafe-pram-and-carrycot-cat-net-medium/619-1009.prd
Saying that, we bought one but never needed to use it because our cat was terrified of Lyra! x
Same as Lisa really – our cat was not into the baby at all, he’s six months now and kitty is happy to come for the odd cuddle but mostly just kept his distance. We put a towel/blanket over the bed when baby wasn’t in it to avoid the cat hair and I’ve heard good thing about the nets. We’ve not restricted his access to the nursery as I didn’t want him to feel locked out but I think the only thing that would have worked in that case is close the door.
Sarah, I was really worried but the cat was petrified of him when he was born. We started locking him out of the bedroom until morning on the lead up to my due date and he adapted fine. As soon as my son went into his own room the cat was back sleeping on my feet. Obviously don’t leave them alone but I also didn’t push the cat away from him, and 18 months later they adore each other.
I don’t actually have a cat myself Sarah, but I do have a friend who had great luck with the following technique:
Set up the basket/crib and fill both with blown up balloons during the rest of the pregnancy. Most cats are afraid of the balloons (and if not, soon will be when one pops) and it will train them that the baby’s sleeping spots are a no-go zone.
We’ve fitted stair gates, although the shape of our stairs means there are 2 Felix can get up onto a mini landing at the bottom (and yes he has fallen head first off it!) but we are teaching him (well attempting to) (17months old) how to climb down these 2 steps! We’re also encouraging him to shut the gate behind him at the top just in case he ever got up the stairs unsupervised.
I’ve got baby locks on my make up and perfume drawers on my dressing table, purely so he doesn’t eat them or break them (selfish I know but after he trashed the box to my Tom Ford wedding perfume I decided I wanted to protect them! i love him more than life but still…) and I’ve put hair products and face products into zip up wash bags in other drawers to stop him eating those too ( he was when quiet small very good at getting the caps off and eating the caps! especially small pump bottle lids….).
Door wise our handles are high up (1930s house) so that stops him getting into or out of any room without our help!
In the kitchen he has free reign on a couple of cupboards but we tell him ‘no’ and hold the door shut he gets bored and goes back to his ‘allowed’ cupboard! Admittedly I now have a very chaotic freezer bag stash….. And we have wooden floor s throughout our hall, living room/diner so he’s learnt very quick about slidey floors!
Oh the husband has learnt he needs to unplug the Xbox at night or else Felix presses all the buttons and almost ruins it!
We’ll be going for a mix. I think teaching children no is a start but they’re children. And no doesn’t always work when they’re excited/playing/have friends over. So securing furniture, moving dangerous items out of reach and stair gates are a must I think. We have dogs so our house is pretty baby/dog proof already.
I don’t want to be so overprotective that our baby can’t explore and learn but I also wouldn’t want to leave obvious risks out for him. It only takes a few seconds sometimes for a dangerous accident to happen so why wouldn’t you spend a few minutes walking (or even better, go on all fours so you can see what’s on their height) through your rooms to check.
We also went with the teaching no option. But I do believe it very much depends on the child! Our daughter is not as adventurous as some, and we have a kitchen/living area we can enclose her in which is very safe for her. And we are, of course, always close by. But we have friends with children who are much less fearful and constantly on the run, so no doubt I may change my opinion if we have another! We worried about our woodburner, and actually have not had to do anything yet. We rarely have it lit when she is around, and when we do she is obviously never left unattended. But after some early rules set to not let her on the hearth she is doing pretty well. We will see if she gets adventurous but so far so good!!
On the plug sockets I think there are new ones that are less dangerous? I was very anti having any after reading many articles, but my husband found some from Mothercare that you can secure with a coin/screw driver and which you are not able to flick out/break the earth etc. We have them only in a couple of key sockets next to her bed and play area, but otherwise all sockets are uncovered. On the topic of discovering articles, my mother kindly (?!) sent me an article about fumes from the foam mats everyone has (ourselves included) that means they are banned in various EU countries!! I have concluded they are in fact safe once they have been unpacked and aired, but if RMF fancies looking into this and writing something that would be great!!
As a pharmacist I beg please keep medicines in a clip safe tub high up put of little ones reach. The amount of phone calls I receive with parents who have had children chew on medicines they shouldn’t ? Mainly it’s people who have taken some pain killers and just forgotten and left the rest of the packet on the side.
Be especially careful if you have people around (friends or grandparents taking meds etc)
Does anyone have any advice on how to secure TVs? Ours is just a standard 32 inch flatscreen on an IKEA TV table and I just suddenly realised kiddos could very easily pull the TV over on themselves. Is this a real worry? And is there some way of anchoring…our TV isn’t that close to a wall! Thanks in advance xx
India, we have these: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6149051 which fix the TV to the stand rather than a wall – if your stand isn’t too narrow (i.e. can’t be pulled over easily itself) they might do the trick? Xx
Thanks so much! Will have a look and may need to replace the TV stand in a little while! xx