When you make childproofing about restricting your child, your stress skyrockets. But make it about creating more fun and freedom, and watch the stress evaporate.
So your little one is on the move at last. Pretty thrilling, right? Admit it—you've been looking forward to this since she was born. But you've been dreading it too. After all, you're suddenly scrambling to defend your home against a newly minted mover and shaker.
Right now, at the beginning of your childproofing career, it's time to make one decision that will take a lot of stress out of your life. That decision is to look at childproofing not as a race to minimize the trouble your child can get in, but as a process of opening up your home to give your child as much fun and freedom as possible.
Why look at it that way? For starters, your child will be happier. But with the right focus, you'll be happier too—less stressed about what could happen, and more able to relax and let your child explore and learn.
Lock and Cover
Little children are naturally curious, but they have little sense of danger. They seem to be attracted to peril. So, yes, if you want any peace you have to do a little prevention first.
Start by putting covers on every reachable outlet—even the ones partially covered by furniture. Make sure the covers are tight enough to not come out easily.
Put locks on the kitchen cupboards. That is, unless you want your pots, pans, and bowls on the kitchen floor every 15 minutes. Put a lock on any door or drawer that little fingers shouldn't be in. You can even put a lock on the fridge, freezer, and dishwasher. It's also a good idea to put latches on toilet seats.
Put gates on stairways. Babies and toddlers seem to be drawn to stairs. Without a gate, you're likely to be hovering near the stairs a lot more than you'd like to be.
If your kitchen range has knobs in front, put on knob covers, or take off the knobs when you aren't cooking. Try doing your cooking on the back burners so the reachable front burners aren't hot. And turn pot handles away to keep them out of reach.
But locking and covering seems so preventive. How is it possible to open up your home if you're closing so much of it off? The secret is to make what you open up as accessible to your child as possible.
GO "Toddler-Chic"
You could stand next to that ornamental table, or the stack of art books on the coffee table, or the delicate floor vase for hours on end. Or you could do without them and relax a bit more.
As much as you like your décor, it's time to evaluate each piece for its child-friendliness. You might need to put some things in storage for a few years, or move them to off-limits rooms.
What kind of furniture works best? Think tables, benches, and chairs with wide stances that are hard to topple. Nothing yankable, like cords, floor curtains, or couch blankets. No plug-riddled power strips under desks. Bookshelves that are anchored to the wall. As few hidden corners as possible. And a fireplace with a sturdy gate around it.
Now for the fun part. Decide which parts of your home will be open to your child, and come up with ways to make those rooms as accessible as possible. Set toys on the bottom few shelves of the bookshelf instead of books. Make a music corner, keep some child-safe art supplies within reach, and make sure there's something fun for you to do along with your child. (It's so much easier to have fun when Mom or Dad is fully engaged!) Set aside a wall or surface to display your latest creations. Keep a diary open to record noteworthy events, and keep a sound recorder and/or video camera close by for those unforgettable moments.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
If you've got a yard, then your childproofing should extend out the door too. Going outside can be a lot of fun. But it may take some changes to make it completely safe. Here are a few precautions to follow:
- Have a fence. If your yard isn't fully enclosed, try creating an enclosed play area with a temporary fence.
- Don't forget sun protection! A small child's skin is especially vulnerable to UV rays. Keep a broad-spectrum sunscreen within arm's reach (think Sun Shades!) and keep your child adequately covered up.
- If you have a pool, be sure it is fully enclosed and inaccessible to your child alone. Be careful—even a small kiddie pool is a drowning hazard for a small child and requires constant supervision. Small ponds should be fenced in, and buckets and tarps that have collected rainwater should be emptied.
- Lock away the yard-work supplies. Fertilizer, paint, and other chemicals should be locked safely away, along with clippers, shovels, and rakes.
- Have some play equipment out there. It doesn't have to be elaborate—in fact, the simpler and more portable, the better. Keep some balls and other toys handy so you can play with your child.
Outdoors or in, the goal is the same: have fun while providing a safe place for your child to play and explore. Wouldn't you rather relax around your child instead of hovering to keep him away from danger spots?
GET DOWN ON THE GROUND
It's inevitable. Learning how to get around and becoming a human vacuum cleaner seem to happen simultaneously. All of a sudden, whatever your baby can get her fingers on will go right into her mouth.
You'll be thinking, Where does she find all that stuff? The answer's pretty simple. As grown-ups, it's surprisingly hard to see all of those little objects. We're just too far away from the floor. So do this: take a few minutes every day at your baby's eye level—crawling around with eyes open for what your baby can see that you can't. You'll be amazed at what you missed from your mile-high perspective. And make it a habit to keep your eyes open for anything your baby could put in her mouth. Pick it up. Don't assume that because it's in an out-of-the-way place she won't find it.
A few minutes close to the carpet every day will leave you a lot more confident that your child isn't going to find anything she shouldn't as soon as you turn your back.
PUT AWAY THE POISONS
It's not enough to keep cleaners behind closed cupboard doors under the sink. Remember: no container, even with a child-resistant cap, is truly childproof. Don't take chances. Find a place to store those chemicals that's well out of reach of little hands. And when you get them out to clean, keep close tabs on them and put them away immediately when you're done.
Where do you put cleaner containers when they're empty? Don't toss them in the kitchen garbage—that's too easy for a toddler to get into. Take them immediately to the outside garbage, or have a secure place to put them until you can dispose of them.
Of course, for real peace of mind, get rid of those toxic cleaners altogether and replace them with cleaners that don't use those harsh, dangerous ingredients. Nobody makes it easier to switch to safer products than Melaleuca. You'll feel a lot better about all the dangers in your home. Remember, toxic cleaners leave residue and that's the last thing your little explorer needs to encounter.
Finally, keep all medicines—prescription and nonprescription—safely out of reach and out of sight. Don't let your child see you get them out or take them.
CRIB FUNDAMENTALS
Those soft crib bumpers? Skip them. They're usually attached with long ties, which can untie too easily and become a hazard. And once your baby learns to pull herself to a standing position, the bumper can be used to help her climb out.
Don't use blankets. They get loose too easily, and as your baby becomes more active, he can get entangled and trapped in them. Plus, babies overheat easily. He'll be fine in a lightweight sleeper with the thermostat set to 70 degrees.
Make the crib a toy-free zone. Large toys like blocks or stuffed animals can be stepped on in an attempt to climb out, and can be a smothering hazard. Even the contraptions that stretch across the top of the crib should be avoided. Many have strings and cords that your baby can get entangled in. Mobiles should be set well out of your baby's reach.
Go for a new crib, not an old one. Older cribs—even if it's the one you used as a baby—tend to be rickety, with chipped corners, old paint, loose screws, and slats that are set too far apart for proper safety.
CREATE "PLUNK-DOWN" ZONES
Hey, you've got plenty to do around the house. When you've got to step away but don't want to leave your child unattended on the floor, it's nice to have a safe place to put her. A playpen, jumper, or swing can keep her happy for a few minutes while you get something else done. Her crib is great in a pinch. Even her highchair will do. Ideally, have plunk-down zones scattered around the house.
BE PREPARED
As careful as you are, accidents still happen. It's good to have all the emergency numbers available where you can see them—911, Poison Control (1-800-222-1222), your pediatrician, and the number and address of the nearest hospital, for starters. You'll feel more prepared by enrolling in an infant CPR class as well, and learning what to do if your child is choking. For classes held in your area, check with the Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
IT'S NOT AN EVENT, BUT A PROCESS
Are you ever fully childproofed? Probably not. Your child is always growing and learning, and a solution that worked yesterday might not work today. There will always be something more that your child has to teach you. Keep learning. Focus on creating as much fun and freedom as possible inside your home while keeping it safe, and chances are you'll find the best solutions every time.
