Essential Tips for Baby-Proofing Your House

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New parents have a lot to handle as they welcome an infant into their home. Here’s some essential tips that can help new parents baby-proof their house and make it safer for their brand new family member.

Don’t Let Things Tumble Down 

The U.S. Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that more than 16,000 children under the age of 5 are injured each year by television sets, bookcases, and other heavy pieces of furniture. To prevent this, secure your heavy furniture to the wall with bolts to prevent it from falling over. Be sure to move heavy items away from the edges of furniture pieces so that your toddler doesn’t pull something down on herself.  Also, you can move tall, wobbly lamps behind furniture so that they can’t get pulled down.

Think of Your Fireplace 

If you have a fireplace, be sure to buy a sturdy safety gate to protect your baby from crawling into unsafe territory. If you have fireplace tools, be sure to keep them behind the fireplace safety gate. 

Cover Electric Outlets 

Electric outlets can be incredibly dangerous, because toddlers are tempted to play with them and place object in them. To prevent this, place electrical outlet covers that have a sliding safety latch. This makes is far more difficult for a toddler to access.

Avoid an Invisible Threat 

There are around 430 deaths in the United States due o carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is often called “the invisible threat” because it is a tasteless, odorless gas that can flood a room and poison those inside. To avoid carbon monoxide problems, install a carbon monoxide detector on every story of  your house to alert you of any elevated levels of carbon monoxide. 

Remove Unsafe Blinds 

Blinds with looped cords are a real safety concerns for parents with young children. Before your baby can crawl, we suggest replacing any blinds or curtains that use cords with ones that do not have cords. If you are not able to replace the cords, tie the cord out of reach of your child. 

Make Stairs Safe 

You can make stairs much safer for your infant by placing baby gates at the top and bottom of any stairways in your house. This can help prevent your child from accidentally falling and injuring themselves. 

Prevent a Poisoning 

Did you know that more than 1.2 million possible poisonings of children under age 5 were reported in 2009? Parents need to store all of their hazardous chemicals out of reach of their children in a secure area. Additionally, you should keep medications well out of reach of their young children, and dispose of any old medication. Be prepared for a potential poisoning by having the National Poison Control Center’s number – (800) 222 – 1222 – always accessible.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Office 

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends parents establish a dental home for their child before their first birthday. This can help build a positive association o f dental care for your children, and make them more proactive in taking care of their own oral health.