How to Child Proof the Baby's Room

Little fingers can get into big trouble. By child proofing your home, you can easily avoid dangerous accidents and help keep your baby safe at home.

We all want our children to be safe. So it is essential that with the addition of your new baby, you thoroughly child proof your home to help avoid hazards and make your home safer. Child proofing should be done in all rooms of your house and it is best to get your child proofing done before your child starts to walk or crawl. Start by child proofing one room at a time, to ensure that you cover each and every hazard thoroughly.

Hazards in the baby's room can include all furniture, electrical cords and outlets, windows, window coverings, and even some bedding. Every item in your baby's room should be viewed carefully, to see if it can be hazardous to your child.

To child proof your baby's room, start by making sure that all furniture is secured to the wall. This will help prevent it from falling over in the event that your baby tries to use it to pull themselves up with. Cribs and crib mattresses should be certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. For more information on the choosing the safest crib, check out Baby Cribs and Mattresses-What is the "Standard" Size for Baby Cribs and Mattresses?

Cover all electrical outlets using safety plates. The plastic plugs that many stores sell should be avoided, as these can easily be pulled out by little fingers and can also pose a choking hazard. Tape down all electrical cords, or for more protection, run cords through electrical cord covers and then secure to the wall. If you have any items such as lamps setting on tables or dressers, make sure that the cords are completely out of reach so that baby does not pull it down. Make sure to use cool night-lights that do not get hot, and keep all night lights away from any bedding or draperies.

Avoid using window covers that have long cords that hang down. If your window coverings do have long cords, tie them up so that are not with reach of your baby. If your baby's room is on a second story, you may want to consider adding safety bars to the window. Keep all furniture away from the windows, so that when your child starts to climb, they cannot reach the window. Never leave your child in a room with access to a window that only has a screen, as the screens can generally be pushed out quite easily.

Once your baby begins to pull themselves up and climb around, remove all bumpers from inside of the crib, since they provide an easy step-up to help them get out. Also, remove any mobiles that maybe hanging above the crib, as these can be pulled down and the baby can become entangled in them.

Child proofing your baby's room is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent unnecessary accidents. The best thing to remember when you child proof, is "If in doubt, take it out." If you worry that something may be too hazardous to your baby, simply remove it from the room. By using just a little bit of foresight when you child proof, you can ensure that your baby has a safe environment to grow in.