- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Multiples
RedWingsFan
member
How much child-proofing did you do?
RedWingsFan
member
in Multiples
So M is starting to scoot/crawl and we're thinking about what type of child-proofing we need to do, and I'd love some input.
We are definitely doing some gates to block off the stairs and our dining room, power strip covers, outlet covers, anchoring bookshelves/dressers to the wall, and also the door/drawer locks for our kitchen, but what else should we do?
I'm thinking about the table corners, and also about moving stuff that will be at their level. For example, we have a bookshelf in our family room, which will be where we spend most of our time - do I remove the books from the lower shelves and put baskets in with their toys/books, or do I constantly try to block them from that area? I don't think they will understand "no" or "don't touch that please" at this very young age, so I guess "better safe than sorry", right?
Anything else I'm forgetting? Is any of this stuff NOT needed? I'm off to BBB and BRU now to do some browsing, so I apologize if I don't reply in the next hour or so.
TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: How much child-proofing did you do?
Two weeks ago I was in BRU wondering Do I want to spend $300 on this crap or should I just buy 4 rolls of duct tape?
For crawlers we just bought 2 Summer attachable baby gates and created a big pen. It was perfect until they became good walkers.
We bought foam "C"shaped things that wrap around the door so they cannot shut their fingers in it. Of course it doesn't stop them from closing their sibling's head in the door. But these have been great.
We also dead bolted out closet and bathroom doors on the outside. If they are not in use they are locked. Much easier than those toilet locks since my LOs can work them, but I cannot.
Honestly, most of our child proofing has been responsive. As in Holy Crap! Can you believe that he did _____. And then we duct tape it down/up whatever. Or just duct tape the kid.
we didn't do a TON - mostly moved things out of the living room (which is also our playroom) that we don't want them to get into... b/c no, it's NOT fun to say "don't touch" 700x's a day.... they will want to touch it more
we anchored the book case to the wall that has all their toys stored in it (expedit bookcase from Ikea = the best!).... we have a lock on our entertainment system's cabinet area... we have gates on both sides of the livingroom - and one on top of the stairs ... they can not get to the stairs when in the living room this way - but we don't have to have one at the bottom of stairs, which is awkward to get through, esp when carrying children. top of stairs is a must, and easier to deal with when carrying a baby (we open it and THEN go pick up the babies to bring downstairs)
we have locks on the cabinets in the kitchen - but that's really it. We did put locks on our doors that go outside - very high up- now that Griffin can open them, so he can't sneak outside ever - he's never tried but we live on a busy road so didn't want to take the chance.
we don't have anything on our doors otherwise, nothing on the toilet (we simply don't let the kids in the bathroom without us there)...
and of course- we have outlet covers - though, most kids learn how to pull them off... mine have never tried (yet!).
nothing compares to watching your kids.... I'm a spaz about that- they are rarely out of my sight - and when they are, they are in their PNP or cribs. Griffin is 3.5 now and I can trust him alone for some time - life is a lot different when they get to be this age
BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
The Bump MoM Recipe Collection
Other than gates, we did a lot of the baby proofing after they showed interest in something unsafe. We never bought the table corner cover things. I would definitely remove the books from the shelves and put toys there. We have a very small entertainment center and I have a bin of toys in there, I have a laundry basket full of toys hidden on the side of the couch, and we have to ottomans that can store things and we're putting some of DS1's toys in there that we don't want the babies to get. We have outlet covers, a few of the "C"-shaped things, and just a few cabinet locks (I only lock the cleaning supplies under the sink and the cabinet that houses our trashcan), they love getting into safe cabinets and playing with mixing bowls and pots and pans.
what the other post said about gating off one room is wise --- that's pretty much what we have... the babies are rarely in other rooms --- and when they are it's like a field trip for them - they get SOOOO excited when i let them in the kitchen - it's my savior when they are super cranky - they cheer right up and have a blast while i'm right there with them.
we had one of the bumper things around our table for Griffin- then that table broke so we threw it out and just got two big ottomans that we can use as tables, and store stuff in -and are soft so when they smash into them it doesn't hurt -that has been REALLY helpful - i forgot about that b/c it's been such a no-brainer since we ditched the coffee table
Regarding the bookshelves: We have built-ins that run the entire length of our living room, which is also the playroom. I simply moved all the knick-knacks and precious books to high shelves and let D go at it. I do have to spend about fifteen minutes every night putting books back on the shelves, but he enjoys it and it's not that big a deal for me.
Also, have a safe place to put heavy books. The books I have in the lower shelves are mostly paperbacks and thin or short so he doesn't brain himself--though he'll likely learn to brain his younger siblings as soon as they're born.
One bit of wisdom from my partner's grandmother, whose house was distinctly "look don't touch": She had one cupboard in the kitchen that the children were allowed to play in. It held only tupperware, and allowed the kids to go crazy without grandmother going crazy, too. I guess in our house, the bookshelves are my tupperware cupboard.
LOL - I am all about the duct tape. I am over this learning how to walk and moving around phase. I am ready to strap them down.
2 chem preg, 4 failed IUIs, 2 canc IVFs, 2 BFN IVFs, IVF #5 = BFP!!!
3/23 Beta #1 @ 17dpo = 913, Beta #2 @ 19dpo = 1724, Beta #3 @ 21 dpo = 3240
First u/s 3/29 @ 5 weeks 2 days - 3 sacs 6 weeks 3 days - 3 heartbeats 8 Weeks - Lost Baby C, Babies A and B going strong
How did you do this. I have been considering those book cases.
Thanks ladies. I wish we could only block off the living room, but our dog needs to be able to get into the kitchen to eat, so I'm not sure how we would deal with that (since obviously I don't want to put her food in the living room; inevitably the babies will decide to try it).
I think maybe we should invest in the storage ottomans - we have a coffee table and two side tables right now, so maybe we could ditch the coffee table (I've been wanting to get new furniture anyways!).
Ugh, it was so exciting the other night when she starting moving/thrusting herself forward, but now I'm dreading all of the crap they're going to get into!
Thanks for all of the advice - this was very helpful.