July 13, 2022
Parenting is one of the hardest things in people’s lives, and doing everything that can ease parents’ worrying minds is entirely normal. If you consider that the average age of first-time moms is 26 and dads 31, learning how to baby proof house is not only essential but also one of the first things you should do after moving in. Your child will be protected from some serious injuries, and you’ll be more relaxed in your place.
Just last year, over three million babies were born in the US. And imagine what it would be like if parents had to watch over their babies 24/7. As we all know, that’s not possible, so applying some tricks on securing your home is necessary. Once you start preparing for a move, don’t neglect the fact you’ll have to learn, besides relocation tips. Also, some tips on securing all sharp edges of furniture and all corners that are potentially dangerous for your kid will come in handy. Keep your home safe with our guide that covers all rooms in your new place.
How Do You Babyproof a Room and Why It’s Important to Do It for Your Kid’s Health
Childproofing a place means you have to prepare and make sure all the places your child spends time aren’t harmful. In different words, making the environment and all potentially dangerous objects safe. Now, some parents might think it’s an unnecessary thing to do after the move if your little one isn’t already walking. But, in the blink of an eye, you’ll be watching your little ones crawling and walking, too. That’s why it’s better not postpone it because other tasks will come along, and you won’t be able to prevent some injuries.
The health of your kids will mostly depend on the surroundings they’re in. Not only do you need to think about all the moving mistakes to avoid, but also about the health of your little ones. When it comes to the injuries that can happen in the place, not only can they be serious, but also fatal. That’s why it’s essential to adjust all the rooms and areas around the house, too.
Don't neglect the fact that injuries happen every day, and you should do everything to prevent them.
How Much Does It Cost to Baby Proof a House
As you already know, almost nothing is free, like you had to pay for professional cross-country moving services, you’ll have to set aside some money to prep the new place as well. The budget will depend on the size of your place, of course, and which supplies you’ll use. But, the cost of babyproofing can go from $300 to $15,000. So, when you make a long-distance moving expenses checklist, be sure you include this in your budget. Although it takes a lot of time and money, your child’s safety should be the top priority.
The best option would be when organizing a move to start saving some money for this task, too. That way, you won’t have to worry about extra expenses and will all the tasks that require money meet your budget. If you want help in organizing childproofing on a budget, check some excellent tips on how to do it in the video below.
When Is the Best Time to Baby Proofing Your Home and Ensure the Safety of Your Child
The reasons for moves are many, whether you’re relocating for a job opportunity or just want a better and bigger place to live. Once you decide where to live, you should have in mind that a new place has to be secured and all potentially harmful items put away and out of reach.
If you’re relocating while pregnant, it’s best to start babyproofing three months before the due date. It’s better to do it in advance because some steps might take a while. When the baby begins crawling (around 6-10 months), that’s when it starts to reveal an entirely new world. This is when the child will start touching all those tiny objects – from cords, plants, and wall sockets.
When to baby proof the home? Prepare everything before your due date if possible
How to Baby Proof a House – Make First ”How Do I Baby Proof My House” Checklist
More than 90% of children’s injuries happen precisely inside the home. So, if you’re wondering how can I make my house safe for my baby, the correct answer would be to organize first. Putting all those harmful and hazardous items that can hurt curious little ones isn’t something you can do in just a few moments. There are many things you need to do when moving into a new place, and if you’ve never moved before, it can be a pretty stressful event.
Check how much your move would cost
Free Quote
So, the best option to be sure the safety and health of your baby are secured would be to make a checklist of things you need to take care of. Something similar to a list you used when planning the move – with a moving to another state checklist. It will keep you on track of items you’ve already protected or put out of reach and those that still have to be. Here are things you can start with:
- Bulky stuff – you can begin with furniture and windows. If you notice that some pieces of furniture are loose, ensure you put them away or repair them. The furniture that can easily tip over be sure to move it right next to the wall.
- Toxic plants – almost every tropical plant is toxic. Put all the pots on the high shelves that are out of reach. This is advice you can use if you’re relocating with pets, too.
- Batteries and similar stuff – store all kinds of batteries in one place that only grown-ups have access to.
- Radiators and heating vents – if you’re moving in winter, the heating will be turned on. To prevent burnings and other injuries, cover radiators or put a gate around them.
Gather Babyproofing Essentials and Adjust Each Room for Your Little One
Relocation stress can be a big problem if you don’t take some steps to reduce it. Will you move efficiently and will you move safely are questions that cross your mind, and if you don’t have everything under control, the whole process can be a bad experience you wish to forget. Here are some tips you should consider doing in a future place when moving to another city:
- Remove hazardous and toxic liquids – lock the bottles with liquids and keep away from your little ones.
- Put away the sharp stuff – knives, forks, and tools should be out of reach for crawling babies and toddlers because even adults can get injured when they aren’t cautious.
- Cords – Most parents don’t think like that, but your child’s safety is jeopardized when cords are all over the place. They can trip and fall, injuring themselves.
- Electricity – your children shouldn’t be able to reach electronic appliances, and cords should be adequately protected.
- Breakables – keep away all items that can break in cabinets or storage and avoid injuries.
Use all tips and tricks that could speed up the childproofing process
Check Each Corner of Your Place
It is a challenging task putting away every little thing that your kid could misunderstand as a toy. And it takes a lot of energy and free moments when you have to check and secure the whole place. However, one of the first places where your newborn will spend most moments is its crib and its nursery, right. So, once you gather all those bumpers and safety paddings, you should consider replacing some stuff that could be dangerous. For example, if you’re thinking about relocating a wood stove, you might reconsider it. However, some items are hard to give up on, like vintage grandfather clocks. Luckily, a reliable relocation company can offer you a storage service where you can keep those items.
Don’t despair because you’ll probably have to give up on some pieces, like a square coffee table with sharp edges. Instead, you can buy a rounded one. After you did some decluttering in your place, you can sell the unwanted things or give them away to charity. Visit the site Goodwill and check how you can help other people.
How to Baby Proof Your House – Nursery and the Crib Should Be the Safest Places
The first thing after the move-in is the cleaning part. The nursery is one of the rooms where the child will spend most of the moments in the beginning. So, be sure every little corner is clean and shiny before you settle in the crib. Don’t forget the crib railing and a lot of pillows and cushions that will provide safety for your newborn.
A crib will be the first place where you'll little one will spend most moments
With All Those Sharp Items in It Kitchen Still Should Be the Safe for Your Kid
The kitchen is probably the most dangerous place for toddlers – with all that sharp cutlery and appliances that could harm them. So, when you’re making a checklist for relocation essentials, put childproof cabinet locks on the list.
Health and security of your little one in the kitchen means you have some protecting to do
Adjust the Living Room and Lock the Bathroom Door
Both of these two rooms have plenty of items that could easily hurt your kids. So, if thinking that relocating to the suburbs where the properties are bigger will solve all of your problems, you should think twice. You’ll probably have to do some redecorating and get lighter chairs, tables, and similar stuff that could easily hurt your little ones.
The best way to solve the bathroom problem is to lock the door and not let the kids get injured in it while you’re doing some other things.
Keep All Those ‘’Interesting’’ Outlets Sealed
We all know outlets are amusing to the kids and how dangerous they can be. Luckily, nowadays, you can find and use all kinds of protective plugs to ensure your kids can’t harm themselves.
As interesting as they can be, use protective plugs for all wall sockets
Secure Other Places Where Your Children Spend Time
If you’ve never had a chance to babyproof an apartment before, then you should know that it’s not just the rooms that have to be protected – don’t forget the stairs. The main question is when to babyproof them? The staircase is the main place where the injuries occur when it comes to toddlers, so put a protective gate and restrict access to them when the kid starts to crawl.
Assure Your Car Is Prepared for the Little Ones
If you’re an active driver, and you asked a relocation company for an auto transport quote, then you should prepare it for kids, as well. The first and most important thing is to get a car seat for your kid and create as comfortable an environment as possible – always have some toys at the back of your car.
Prepare your car for your little one and drive without worries
Reliable Cross Country Movers Group Will Ease the Whole Process
You have to complete many tasks when relocating to a new place, and for some people, it can be just too overwhelming. That’s why the best solution is to hire a reliable relocation company that will help you with packing services because, let’s face it – it’s the most tedious part of the move. So, with some tasks out of the way, you can dedicate planning and protecting your future home.
