Regularly vacuum your living room floor to pick up any small items you might not notice visually. Even items like deflated latex balloons or forgotten paperclips could lead to a choking hazard if they are left on the floor for your baby to find and ingest. [1] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Make sure you inspect your baby’s toys regularly. Small pieces may fall off and become choking hazards. If you notice small pieces from a toy on the floor, discard that toy and the broken pieces immediately. Move furniture to pick up small objects and vacuum. Your baby could reach under and find things you may have missed. Things like old batteries, loose paper, and buttons from the remote might have found their way behind or under the furniture.
Wrap excess cord length and secure it with a zip tie. Then, hook the cord to the wall using a Command hook. Just make sure you hook the cord high enough that your baby won’t be able to reach it to pull it down. To best keep your baby from pulling on electrical cords, you should move furniture in front of the cords and the outlets they plug into. This will block access to the cord and the outlet all at once.
Use plastic outlet covers in all outlets. You can buy these at just about any grocery or department store. They are made of plastic, plug right into the outlet, and are difficult for your baby to grip and pull out because they lie flat against the outlet. You can install baby-safe electrical outlet plates over your existing outlets to prevent your baby from getting to them. They clip right over your original cover. To use the outlet, just put the prongs in place, slide the cover to the side, and plug your cord in. These might be more visually appealing than plastic covers, and you would be less likely to lose them or forget to put them back in after using the outlet.
Playmats and gyms are great for babies of many different ages and developmental stages. They come in many different styles and sizes, and offer your baby a soft place to lie down and play, as well as built in entertainment like toys, lights, and music to engage your baby and keep him or her happy. [4] X Research source If you decide to go with an area rug or carpeting, choose something in a darker shade. Babies and young children are prone to messes like spills and accidents, so a darker colored rug would allow you to better mask stubborn stains and leftover messes. [5] X Research source
Some of these even come in fun shapes, like animals or cartoon characters. Depending on how much you want to give up your own personal design style for your kids, you might consider these to make them more fun. Make sure you purchase enough of these for all sharp corners and edges in your living room. This includes coffee tables, end tables, TV stands, shorter bookcases or shelving units, benches, and chairs.
You can also buy furniture straps to secure your end tables and bookcases to the wall. These straps are easy to apply and use, and are durable and reliable. They are also easily removed or released if you want to redecorate or rearrange your furniture. [6] X Research source
Think about the things you often keep in drawers: remotes, items with small pieces, fragile items, candles, and even sharp objects or lighters. You want to make sure your baby does not have access to these items. [7] X Research source Your baby could potentially pull the drawers out and use them as a ladder to climb higher, resulting in injury. Keeping drawers closed and secure prevents this. One of the best methods to secure drawers in your living room is with easily installed magnetic locks. These kits often come with multiple locks and a single key. They are easily disabled (by you) when you need to get into the drawer, and won’t allow your child to open the drawer even a crack, which could get her fingers caught. [8] X Research source
Depending on the type of windows you have, your method of babyproofing them will differ. For example if you have sliding windows, or windows that slide to the left or right to open, you will want to put a bar in your window track to prevent the window from sliding open. Or, if you have hung windows that push up to open, you will want to make sure they stay in the locked position, and that the locks are secure. [10] X Research source Wrap up and secure all cords hanging from things like blinds and draperies. These cords are dangerous for your child, as they could become entangled in them. Use zip ties and Command hooks to wind up excess cord lengths and hang them out of reach. [11] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Products Safety Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by developing safety standards and conducting product research Go to source Choose cordless window coverings when you can. Replace the glass in your windows with shatterproof glass, or use shatterproof linings like tempered glass or films to keep glass from shattering and harming your baby should it break. Install window guards to make sure your child cannot fall out of the window. These guards are essentially bars that will allow you to open your windows and let air in without worrying about your child falling out.
There are many options for securing doors in your home to keep your baby from getting injured, or from entering rooms they aren’t allowed in. One option is called a “Door Monkey,” which is a gadget that allows air to still move between rooms through a small gap in the door, but keeps the door from opening or closing any further. [12] X Research source Use a cover on deadbolts to keep your baby or growing toddler from unlocking them. These are available in the baby care aisle of most stores. Door knob covers prevent your child from turning round door knobs. Alternatively, you can simply close the door with a washcloth in the jamb, and your child will not be able to open it. As you close the door, place a washcloth between the door and the frame, and close the door on the cloth. This will keep the door in place should your child try to push it open, but you will be able to open it yourself with a little push and pulling the washcloth tight.
You can purchase these at your local hardware or home improvement store. They often clip right into your existing screen door and will allow you to keep air flowing in while still keeping your child safe. There are also companies that will install special types of doors. Many companies have the option for a door that comes equipped with a metal grill on the lower half of the screen.
There are many ways to cover your fireplace. One more stylish way to babyproof a fireplace is to cover it with a panel you have painted with chalkboard paint. You could also fill it with books for decoration, or cover it with a piece of sheet metal. [13] X Research source If you want to leave your fireplace functional while still protecting your child from it, you will want to install a gate with a wide girth that will keep your child away from both the hearth and the fire while the fireplace is in use. Radiator covers can help keep your child’s hands away from a hot radiator while it is in use, and keep him from getting his hands stuck in it if it’s off. You can buy radiator covers in a variety of styles, or even make your own. [14] X Research source
Even some of the most common household plants can be harmful to your child. Pothos, Peace Lily, and Caladium plants are all highly toxic to children, and even pets. If you have any of these in your living room, make sure you put them out of reach. Swapping live plants out for plastic plants is an option, but even plastic plants pose their threats. Children could pull off leaves or small pieces, which are choking hazards. It is best to keep all plants, real or fake, out of reach.
You might usually keep things like vases, decorative items, or even remote controls on your coffee and end tables. Move these items to higher shelves and out of reach of your child. They could potentially cause harm if they are broken, or if small pieces are ingested. You can even try installing high, floating shelves to place these items on. This is a stylish alternative to putting your decorative items away until your child is older. [17] X Research source
