Tips On How To Baby-Proof Your Home

By Connie LimonTips on how to Baby-Proof Your Home Your baby is now crawling, climbing and walking along thefurniture. It is time now to get down on your hands and kneesand take a look around at what baby is looking at and curiousabout. Crawl from room to room and pick up anything you seesmall or fragile that may fit into your baby�s hand and mouth. Examples of objects that pose a choking hazard include: � Nuts � Pen caps � Buttons � Thumb tacks � Marbles � Coins Babies just love to pull and grab at any cord or string theycan reach and get hold of. You will need to keep electrical,telephone and window-blind cords tied up and inaccessible. Keepthese things out of reach near your baby�s crib as well. Clothing sometimes poses a hazard to babies. Be sure yourbaby�s clothes fit properly. A shirt too big may pose a problemif your baby wriggles out of it and twist it around his or herneck. Check clothing for loose strings, ribbons or strips offabrics. Avoid jewelry such as necklaces, headbands and piercedearrings without child-safety backs. Tips about crib safety: � Be sure the sheets fit snugly. You want to avoid any kind ofloose bedding. � Remove the bumper pads when your baby is able to pull up to astanding position � Crib railings should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Cribsides should be flush with the headboard and footboard. � Old baby furniture may be painted with lead pain. Avoidantique or vintage cribs � Mattress should fit snugly in the crib � Always remove the plastic wrap off baby�s mattress � If you use a mattress cover, use one with a zipper that fitssnugly � Do not place the crib next to a window � Do not hang anything from the crib railings Purchase baby safe, age-appropriate toys and do not let yourbaby play with balloons, marbles, coins or other small objects.Discard toys that may fit into your baby�s mouth whencompressed. Avoid toys with cords or long strings; babies canwrap these around their neck and create a choking hazard. Checkeyes, buttons or anything tightly fastened to a toy to be sureit is snugly in place. Always remove plastic wrapping andstickers from new toys and discard immediately. When your baby starts to walk around the furniture removewobbly tables or pieces of furniture that might turn over ifyour baby uses them as a crutch to stand up. Be careful aboutbookcases that might tip over. Install safety locks and latches on kitchen and bathroomcabinets and drawers to keep baby out of possible poisoningsand other items that are not for baby play. To further preventaccidental poisonings keep the following items out of reach: � Alcohol � Medications � Vitamins � Paint thinner � Toilet bowl cleaners � Oven cleaners � Bleach � Ammonia � Dishwasher soap � Drain openers Many of these items can be stored behind safety locks andlatches on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Go through your home often looking for new hazards. Alwaysremember, a very important safeguard for your baby iscontinuous adult supervision. This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.About the Author: Connie Limon Visithttp://smalldogs2.com/BabyHealth for an extensive list ofarticles all about baby health and taking care of babies.Source: http://www.isnare.com