Help!! I know this is next on our big list of things to do around the house. I have so many questions!
1) Zones
Do we baby proof the ENTIRE house or just safe areas for play? For example, I intend to to make our entire basement 100% baby proof – every nook, cranny and outlet. All the furniture bolted to the walls. All the toys ready for play. On the other hand, our upstairs living room has a lot of glass and there is a lot of heavy furniture. I’d like to just leave that room as-is and just never let him in there. But is that realistic? Too risky?
Mazen’s bedroom is another place that definitely needs baby proofing since he’ll be spending time in there. Same with the master bath, bedroom and the porch, which I see as the upstairs warm-weather play area.
What about the kitchen? If we had a big open floor plan with a great room and kitchen in one, I can see that the kitchen would need to be proofed. But our kitchen (and the upstairs living room I mentioned above) are both kind of closed off. I’m not sure if it’s worth putting a lock on every single cabinet if we won’t be in there that much. Right now I cook and eat during naps or while he’s in his highchair, but as he gets more mobile, maybe I’ll need (want?) him to be able to crawl or walk around with me?
I of course want to be on the safe side, but the thought of having proof the whole house is more exhausting than a night with 1 hour wake-ups.
2) What should I buy?
I have this tub spout cover in my Amazon cart.
I have these outlet plug covers. I don’t see the need for anything too fancy because we won’t use our outlets that much to plug things in and out.
We definitely need baby gates at the top and bottom of our stairs. Because we go up and down all.day.long, I’m looking for something that’s really easy to open and close while holding a baby. I’d love to not have to drill giant holes in the wall, but I hear that makes it extra safe? I would love some gate recommendations!
Obviously if we decide to do the whole kitchen, we’ll need cabinet magnets [like these] or locks. When I have babysat in houses with those cabinet and drawer things, they drive me nuts!
What other gear do I need to buy?
3) On Hands And Knees
What are things that you don’t think about until they become an accident? I’m planning to do the baby crawl around my house and see what looks dangerous. We have the nursery furniture bolted in the wall, but we need to figure out what other furniture in the house needs this – but first we need to decide on those safe zones!
You expert mamas who have mobile kiddos, please share your wisdom to this overwhelmed first-time mom.
Thank you!!