Baby gates and general babyproofing advice?

Mrs.Ram

We've been pretty lax about babyproofing - taking the attitude that we can just watch DD so she stays out of trouble/harms way.

Now that she's fully crawling (often to the top of the stairs), it's probably time to officially address it. Our top priority is getting gates for the top and bottom of the stairs (if you have any recommendations, let me know!).  She doesn't actually get into too much trouble yet, other than being obsessed with our bunny's cage, which there isn't much we can do about other than redirect her when she crawls that way.

So if you have any gate recommendations, or general babyproofing recommendations, please share!

AgrippaRidesAgain

I'd say, babyproof as needed.  That's what we did with DS. We used these gates:

https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-Easy-Step-Extra-Wide/dp/B0007G6KEW/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1278008563&sr=1-22

in the hallway at the base of our stairs (could not put gates on the actual stairs) and didn't use a gate at the top of the stairs.  DS was never alone upstairs anyway, so we didn't see it as a priority.  He figured out how to work them at 14 months though, so I'm glad that we also taught him how to go up and down stairs safely. 

Here are the general babyproofing things we did:

Outlet covers

Blind cord wind ups

cabinet locks

doorknob covers (not until 20-21 months)

DS figured out the cabinet locks at 14 months, so we had to reorganize the kitchen and bathrooms. 

fatjavacat

I am in the same boat - now that DS is crawling he is everywhere.  I have gated the tops of the stairs with a mesh retractable gate.  Which is nice because we live in a small town house.  We also put the outlet covers on almost immediately - for some reason babies are attracted to outlets.   And a lock on the cabinet with all of the cleaning supplies.  Other than that we are going to see what trouble he gets in to next.  

victoria1212

we got the lattice type gates like this and they were great until DD figured out how to climb them. The power strip covers and outlet plugs have been great and instead of babyproofing all the cabinets and stuff in the kitchen- we just gated it off.

Hey Jellisy

We never actually put up gates.  We just taught DD how to use the stairs.  She goes up fearlessly but rarely goes down by herself.  We do live in a split level so none of our stairs are really tall.  I might feel differently if we had full height staircases.  

Ditto Agrippa on baby proofing as needed.  For us this really meant being mindful in organization of the house.  Most cleaners/chemicals are downstairs (DD doesn't go down there) and moving the kitchen drawers around so only safe to play with items are in the lower drawers.  We do have one cabinet the DD has expressed no interest in that is low and contains all my serving platters that I probably should lock, but I've been lucky with where her interests lay.

Some things really do just require constant vigilance.  House plants are a magnet for DD, she used to like to eat the dirt, now she likes to pluck the leaves.  I LOVE plants so I have no inclination to get rid of them, I just try to watch closely.  

I am guided somewhat by trying to place things she loves at her level to distract her.  Hair ribbons on low shelves in the linen closet, boxes of pasta and plastic condiments on low shelves in the pantry (so she can help cook), and bangy things like pots and wooden spoons in the kitchen (along with an endless supply of Tupperware to stack).  It's really a constant process.  

The kitty box and food and water are all downstairs so DD never even sees them.  

PS  I put on cute outlet covers kind of late in the game, DD had never paid attention to the outlets before but once they were on, it was open season.  I immediately took them off and she went back to ignoring them...    

DCtoLowcountry

Another one in the same boat! We have a split level and just installed this as a baby gate on the main level in an arc, so we can run from the top to the bottom level without going through a gate, but DS can't get to the stairs. On the other levels we shut doors or use play yards.

Reorganization has been key to put things out of reach, and put distractions like baskets of books or toys on his level, and cabinets/drawers that are OK to open and explore.

Our house has little overhead lighting, so keeping DS from climbing the floor lamps is a problem. Oh well!

Artslvr

Our gates (one at the top of the stairs, one at the bottom) are either this one, or very like this one:  https://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=112230&RN=7072&  It's metal and it's like Fort Knox.

We have a lock (the kind with a magnet "key") on the kitchen cabinet under the sink where alcohol and cleaning stuff is stored. 

We have a door knob saftey thingy on our linen close door because that's where all our OTC drugs are. 

We have outlet covers - the kind that have a spring so they snap closed even if kiddo pulls the plug out. 

We have screwed a few bookcases in the playroom to the wall so they don't topple.

We have put a cushion thing across the hearth of the fireplace in the playroom. 

I think if a safey expert came to our house they'd be mortified by a few things we haven't done, like put any cushioning on our glass/metal coffee table, or the fact that we just sort of tuck up the blind cords into the windowsills.  But I think we've done an OK job.

babypuplove

I agree with doing it as needed.  We just kind of see what she's into next and fix it.

One big thing we did was remove our coffee table all together from the family/play room.  We were going to do the padding on the corners, but decided it was just better for her to have more open play space, and it's one less thing to worry about her bumping her head on.  (Now that she's a little older we could put it back, but we like the open space, and baby #2 is almost here, so it's staying out for a while!)  :-)

We have clear outlet covers in all of the outlets, so it looks like they aren't even there, and she doesn't even notice them or try to play with them.

We put large box outlet covers over the outlets that are in use in her bedroom and family room.

We have a gate at the top of the stairs, but not the bottom.  Our stairs are in the living room, which we hardly use, and the only time she climbs them is when I'm in there with her and we're headed upstairs anyway, so I let her.

The only cabinet we have locked is the one in the kitchen with the cleaning supplies.  

We've pretty much removed all "knick knacks" from tables and other areas in the house, and I have to say, I'm liking the clutter-free look a lot better.   

That's all I can think of now...