A guide for baby proofing your home

Getting your house in shape for your newborn can be a big project, but fortunately it's one that can be done over time, rather than all at once. Read on to see our guide to baby proofing your home…

It’s an exciting time in your life and now you need to make sure your house is ready for the arrival of your new baby.

Make sure you prepare the nursery (or anywhere else you’ll be changing nappies and your baby will sleep) before your baby arrives, but after that you can baby proof the rest of your house bit by bit over the next few months, so it's ready for when your child is on the move!

Once you’re satisfied with your baby proofing efforts, you’ll love the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your baby or toddler can safely explore your home under your watchful supervision.

What is baby proofing?

Baby proofing is taking action to make sure your home and environment is safe for your child. This can be adapting your current furniture, buying new appliances or removing certain features within your household to eliminate or minimise potential risks or hazards for your little one.

When you start baby proofing, it’s helpful to look at things from your baby’s perspective, because what seems like a harmless, everyday object to you can be dangerous to your tiny tot.

What age should you start baby proofing?

If possible, try to start baby proofing while you are waiting for your baby's arrival, this gives you the peace of mind that when you bring your little one home, the house is already safe for them.

Don’t worry if you don’t have time, try and tackle most of the baby proofing tasks before your baby starts to move around independently.

Baby proofing is an ongoing task, so you may need to keep reevaluating the risks and making sure things don’t become unsafe as your baby grows taller and more agile.

What areas in the home should you baby proof?

You need to ensure all the places your baby will go in your house are safe, therefore you need baby proof most of your rooms.

Make a start by addressing items, like plug sockets, windows, doors, corners and stairs. Then focus on the high-risk rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom, your child's nursery or bedroom, your bedroom and living room.

As previously mentioned, baby proofing is an ongoing process, so when your little one starts to grow and they can access more places you’ll have to ensure they are all safe.

Baby proofing tips…

1) For cupboards and doors

Cupboards can be easily accessible for small children, as they are usually at their height. You can keep them safe by buying child locks, to keep them out of cupboards that may contain harmful substances or sharp objects.

For interior doors you can also buy finger protection strips or cover hinges that can help prevent a child getting their fingers trapped in a door. These close the gap where the hinges are so a child can not get their fingers stuck here.

It’s also useful to put catches on the back of doors to keep them open so the are secure when children are around and don’t slam shut unexpectedly.

2) For window coverings

If you have blinds, that are in an area a child can reach, make sure they are safe. Unrestrained cords and chains, may be hazardous to young children.

Making products safer for homes with infants and young children is an integral part of our design philosophy.

Luxaflex® offers many innovative lifting systems designed with safety and convenience in mind, all of our products comply with the European EN 13120 (safety standard for internal blinds performance).

Looking at purchasing new window coverings? Consider PowerView® Automation - our cordless electric blinds solution. Not only is this a safe option, motorised blinds can be operated by remote control, via our app or voice control.

Make an appointment with you local Luxaflex® retailer, they can talk you through the best window coverings solutions for your family and home.

3) In their bedroom

Make sure your child's room is a welcoming and safe place for them to sleep and explore. So take the time to check all the furniture in there meets safety standards before adding the finishing touches.

Check that your cot is free of any hazards and has a snug-fitting mattress, don’t place any objects in the crib including bumpers, pillows or toys.

Any furniture that is in the nursery, ensure it is anchored correctly to the wall, so it’s not going to fall over. Make sure your changing table is easily accessible to everything you need so you’re not leaving your little one unattended.

Buy yourself a baby monitor that works for you, so when they are peacefully sleeping you also have peace of mind, while relaxing elsewhere.

4) For edges

Sharp edges can be found in nearly every room of the house, so make sure you start baby proofing them early to ensure you get them all. All edges on furniture, cupboards and tables should be cushioned to avoid injuries if your toddler bumps into them.

You can buy corner and edging guards to protect your child from the prominent edges in your home, one of the most important ones is coffee tables as these can be at a similar height to your toddler's face/head.

Tip: Buy multiple edging guards and move them around your house to the different height edges when your children are growing to ensure they are protected throughout their childhood.

5) Around fireplaces

Baby proofing your fireplace is crucial as they are usually in your front room, where you spend most of your time and are also in easy reach of little fingers from an early age. The best baby proofing for your fireplace will depend on what design you have, but don’t worry there are many options for you to choose from.

One of the most popular solutions is to keep your fireplace completely sealed off with a gate or fireguard so it’s out of reach. If possible buy an option that can attach to the wall, so it can’t be easily pulled over.

If a gate isn’t the solution for you, ensure your hearth is safe. If you have a flat hearth, this can be easily baby-proofed with the use of a soft mat. If you have a stepped hearth make sure you cover all of the edges with padding, you can either buy this specifically or DIY your own with connectable baby mats.

Whichever works best for you and your fireplace design.

Window blind safety

Keep cords out of reach of small children
Fit all blinds according to manufacturer installation instructions
Move beds, cots and furniture away from window covering cords
Safety devices for every type of blind are available and can be easily fitted to existing blinds
When purchasing new blinds, ensure they are designed with safety in mind

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