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Cabinets and drawers
Handles and knobs on cabinets and drawers are enticing to babies. And once they've pulled a cabinet open once, they'll try to pull them all open, every chance they get. Cabinet and drawer latches are inexpensive, and they don't take very long to install. For typical latches, a plastic hook gets screwed to the drawer or cabinet door and a plastic catch gets screwed into the top frame of the cabinet itself or the drawer cavity. One some cabinets, you may not need to install the catch, as the lip of the cabinet frame can work just as well.
Cabinets and drawers are just the starting points. You'll also need to install latches on any other furniture that your baby is tall enough to open. Some pieces of furniture that you may need to latch could include washstands, pantries, TV cabinets, and entertainment centers. Plastic baby safety latches work best in wood furniture; if you need to latch furniture made of another material, you may want to consider strong double-sided tape or another kind of screw.
Toilets
For a toddler, the toilet is a magical device. Anything that gets dropped in and flushed disappears forever (unless it stops the toilet up). Your child will probably try to flush at least a few of his toys and your personal items at some point.
You can prevent your toddler from having access to the toilet by using a toilet lock. Toilet locks generally come in two styles -- a lock that clamps onto the front of the toilet, or a rod or arm that adheres to the rear part of the toilet. Both styles prevent the toilet lid from being raised unless you unlock it first. For the rear-style toilet locks, you can adjust how high the lid can be raised by where you position the lock.
Once you've attached the toilet lock, be sure to use it. Leaving the toilet lid up is an open invitation to a toddler, and hopefully you've put your keys, wallet, and cell phone somewhere out of reach.
Outlets
When parents think of toddler-proofing their home, outlet covers are probably the first thing that come to mind. Outlet covers are very cheap and very easy to use. They consist of a plastic guard that covers an electrical outlet and two prongs that go into the outlet to keep the outlet cover in place. Outlet covers should be used on any electrical outlet that is not currently being used by an appliance or device -- especially (but not limited to) those within your toddlers' reach.
As an alternative to standard outlet covers, you can find more comprehensive ones, such as the Kidco Outlet Plug Cover, which will cover the entire outlet, including outlets that are being used. The nice thing about this kind of outlet cover is that it will prevent your toddler from yanking plugs and cords from the outlet.
Furniture
Now is the time to take a look at your furniture. Sharp edges and corners should be covered with padding or cushioning to prevent your toddler from hurting himself or herself. Also consider the bottom side of furniture; a toddler that crawls under the coffee table and suddenly tries to stand up can get a nasty bump.
You can buy specially-made corner guards and edge guards, which fit over sharp or hard parts on furtniture and provide some padding. These guards come in different colors and styles so they can match your furniture.
Small pieces of furniture that can be moved easily (like a wire stand or a small end table) should be secured to a wall. Your toddler may try to stand up by pulling himself or herself up on the furniture, only to have it topple down on top of him or her. A small plastic bracket with some wood screws and anchor screws should be sufficient for most jobs.
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Things Needed Outlet covers Stove knob covers Fridge lock Toilet locks Cabinet and drawer latches Brackets, screws, and anchor screws Screwdrivers and a drill Corner guards and edge guards Baby gate(s) Someone to watch your toddler while you do all of this work Tips & Warnings  When it comes to babies, it's much better to be safe than sorry. If you're not sure if something is safe for your toddler, take precautions to be absolutely sure that it is.
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Stairs Stairs are arguably one of the most important things to toddler-proof. You'll need a good gate to block the staircase and keep your baby from getting to the stairs. (Make sure there is no room under the gate for your baby to squeeze through.) Even the bottom of a staircase should be gated if it is somewhere your baby might crawl -- toddlers can often figure out how to crawl up stairs very quickly. Refrigerator and stove Your toddler probably isn't strong enough to open your fridge yet, but you should be prepared for when he or she is with a fridge lock. You can also buy a latch or lock for your oven, as well as knob covers for the oven knobs. Wires and cables A typical home has wires and cables everywhere: television cables, stereo cables, electrical wires, computer cables, telephone cables, etc. Not to mention chargers for cell phones, laptops, or electric razors. Tie these wires up and secure them somewhere out of your toddlers' reach -- for example, you could tape them to the back of your computer desk. For wires that run along the ground or close to the ground, packing tape (also called moving tape) often works well to cover the wires and keep babies from yanking on them or chewing them, but you have to apply it with a tight seal, somewhere it can stick to (like the side of a cabinet or a wall). Everything else Toddler-proofing is an ongoing process. Make sure nothing with small pieces that a toddler could swallow (or try to swallow) is left laying on the floor, or anywhere within a baby's reach (including on the edge of a table or desk). You should also vacuum and clean regularly to prevent the buildup of dust bunnies and other dirt that a baby might try to eat. |
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How-To Guide Rating: 72
