baby proofing...dumb questions inside

newter135 · December 2013

soooo today when my labrador knocked a glass off of a side table shattering it next to a basket full of cables and wires that my house is FAR from baby friendly. What baby proof products do you guys recommend? one question I have is I have soft close cabinets and drawers do I still need special latches and locks for those? I also have cabinet latches that have to be turned and pulled to open, I've seen adults struggle to do it so do those need to be proofed too? I assume we should put a gate of sorts in front of the gas fire place? This sounds terrible but this is so one of those things where I wish I could just hire a company to come and tell me what I need to move/hide/get rid of and install safety features where needed...essentially I want to throw money at this problem and not "really" deal with it at all which makes me feel terrible like I should be more involved but its more that I just feel so overwhelmed and confused by it all. HELP!

Smores730 · December 2013

For the most part, it's one of those things you tackle as the problems arise. Some kids don't mess with things as much as others and you'll see what interests your kiddo super quick! For example, I have never had any of my kids mess with the toilet and have heard horror stories.
Thinking ahead, it's best to anchor any furniture that appears tip-able if climbed especially in rooms your LO will be playing in frequently, getting latches on any cabinets with chemicals in it, socket plugs, and a baby gate if you have stairs.

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

We didn't do a lot either. Most of our outlets are covered by furniture, but covers for those. Shelves etc attached to wall. Try to keep cords put up, we don't have blinds with cords but that's a thing. Cabinets with dangerous things inside need to be baby proofed but not other ones. Basically you will find out reeeaaaalllly quickly when they get old enough where the trouble spots are

AcaAwkward · December 2013

Love all the fellow low-key baby-proofers!

We also didn't even begin to baby proof other than rearranging some things and tethering super heavy furniture (TV, dresser in her nursery) to the wall until DD was mobile.

Everything breakable was moved up high, cabinets with chemicals and our liquor cabinet are locked, we have outlet covers, and the door to our pantry has a door lock (we have levers instead of knobs on all our interior doors so she figured those out really quickly. Any low drawers or cabinets that are unlocked are filled with items I don't mind her playing with (Tupperware, measuring cups, pots, cooking spoons and spatulas, etc). Things like oven / toilet / washing machine locks seem like overkill to me (although I do use the built-in washer lock on occasion if she is in the mood to push buttons), but she's also not the type of toddler who is interested in throwing toys in the toilet or flushing constantly.

We also have no gates in our house. We have 3 sets of stairs, and we really felt like she needed to learn how to safely climb up and down stairs pretty quickly just because it's a necessity in this house. This meant A LOT of supervision when she was learning, but, at 22 mo, she is a total stair champ and I really do not worry at all about her traversing them on her own (we don't just let her roam around without checking on her often, but if she happens to go upstairs on her own, I don't freak out). I anticipate we will install a heavy duty gate at the top of the stairs when she gets a big girl bed just so she doesn't wander out of her room in the dark and trip down the stairs (her room is upstairs and ours is down).

This lax version of baby proofing is pretty beneficial, at least to us. DD has learned that certain things are off limits (like power cords) and she's learned how to maneuver around safely without being swathed in plastic wrap. This means, wherever we go, I feel like she's pretty safe so long as she's supervised because she's used to working around "hazards" in her own home.

Now, there ARE professional baby proofing consultants that can do everything for you...they are pricey though and will probably tell you you need locks for every thing in your entire house.

Sarahjess06 · December 2013

We didn't start until he started crawling/pulling up to stand. We did put up gates but like PP we took them down shortly after bc he needed to learn at 7 months he was climbing up them and by 9 months he was able to go down. Now at 2 I don't give it a second thought (which freaks family members out). We have the cabinets locked and the fridge. The fridge I didn't expect.... But my little stinker likes to pull jars of pickles out and open them, well that and the milk. Ugh!

mrsB68 · December 2013

I agree with all this but would also recommend a scan of what's floor level or almost floor level. For example in the summer you don't want a fan on the floor... But other than that I go for low key with the others. I'm not about to baby proof every surface in my house. The kid can play with Tupperware of they like!

thomas930 · December 2013

We have outlet plugs and one gate (but thats more for the dog). All wires are stashed behind furniture and I teach the kids to stay out of cabinets.

RedDawnsRevenge · December 2013

I have a 19 month old. Everyday I find some new thing that needs baby proofing. I believe my child has a serious death wish.

ksulli · December 2013

There are people you can hire to come do it and/or just point out what you should do.

We got outlet covers, put in gates when she got mobile, keep all the window blind strings tucked out of reach, extra power cord tucked behind furniture, and locks on the cabinets that have damaging stuff in them. A lot of our cleaning chemicals we just moved above the microwave so they are almost out of my reach too.

newter135 · December 2013

This is so helpful and made me relax ALOT. I tend to be a worrier so to hear that its mostly about watching them, correcting and just moving or securing the extreme safety hazards (breakable things, top heavy furniture, chemicals, outlets) makes me feel so much better. Raging hormones + anxiety/paranoid personalities do not mix well! Thanks for alleviating my worries!

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

A lot of it depends on the kid, too. Some kids just really do seem bent on doing themselves bodily harm and need more comprehensive precautions, but obviously you won't know if you have one of those for awhile.

ASasquatch · December 2013

Anyone have experience with babies and cast iron radiators? We don't really want to get covers for them since it drastically reduces the heat output and the price of oil is a b*tch as it is. I really don't think they get hot enough to cause any real burn damage (my cat sleeps leaning on them all day) but am I a bad person if I let my kid learn the hard way not to touch them?

RedDawnsRevenge · December 2013

ASasquatch said:
Anyone have experience with babies and cast iron radiators? We don't really want to get covers for them since it drastically reduces the heat output and the price of oil is a b*tch as it is. I really don't think they get hot enough to cause any real burn damage (my cat sleeps leaning on them all day) but am I a bad person if I let my kid learn the hard way not to touch them?

We had a floor heater, which is why we were rejected for adoption. DD never tried to touch it. There was no way to block it off with anything as it was partially in a hallway. We had central air installed in May and the heater removed.

snowclouds · December 2013

Until baby learns to crawl, scoot, or move in any way (usually 6 mths) you really don't need to baby proof. We just bought stuff as we realized we needed it. We didn't even install baby gates until DS was almost 1 since he didn't walk and never tried to go up the stairs.

beautifulstr13 · December 2013

LalaMama81 said:

ColleenSwerb said:

I didn't even think about baby proofing until LO was mobile. We did minimal baby proofing.
The furniture in the nursery was attached the wall when we put it in. We got outlet plugs. I got a couple of the cabinet locks that are like the lever on the inside of the cabinet door. That's pretty much it.

Pretty much this. We are low-key on baby proofing. I'd certainly rearrange some things so that unsafe stuff was higher. You probably don't have to worry much until next fall. Have a 1 year old come to your house and see what they get into, way cheaper than a service!

All of this.

nessabeers · December 2013

Ps my husband does custom cabinets and your soft close and pull cabinets should be just fine! Sometimes it's hard for my 6 year old niece to open! I think once mine are mobile we'll put a lock under the kitchen sink

J&NL · December 2013

We never really baby proofed except the cabinets and outlet covers. We made sure all of the wires and chords were hidden, too.

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

You're allowed to touch, but only with one finger. I think the radiator is fine as long as it's not going to give them a burn with blisters for anything. They don't seem like they get THAT hot, to me, but I don't have one!

Sisimama10 · December 2013

Pretty much all we do is make sure chemicals/all not baby safe products are not in bottom cabinets. DD really never got into anything. She's been so easy all her life. I'm scared this baby will be crazy and I will have to baby proof everything.

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