| There is more to baby proofing your house than | | | | There is more to baby proofing your house than |
| merely putting your precious collectibles out of reach | | | | merely putting your precious collectibles out of reach |
| of a crawling or walking baby. The main point to baby | | | | of a crawling or walking baby. The main point to baby |
| proofing your living space is to make your home safe | | | | proofing your living space is to make your home safe |
| for the baby. As soon as a baby can crawl, he or she | | | | for the baby. As soon as a baby can crawl, he or she |
| will be touring about your home, learning everything | | | | will be touring about your home, learning everything |
| there is about your stuff by putting his hands and | | | | there is about your stuff by putting his hands and |
| mouth on it. | | | | mouth on it. |
| First, look at the room from your baby's perspective | | | | First, look at the room from your baby's perspective |
| on the floor. When the baby is at an age to put things | | | | on the floor. When the baby is at an age to put things |
| in his or her mouth, you will find that you need to pay | | | | in his or her mouth, you will find that you need to pay |
| attention to vacuuming or sweeping your floors more | | | | attention to vacuuming or sweeping your floors more |
| often than you usually do. Any little piece of lint or clod | | | | often than you usually do. Any little piece of lint or clod |
| of dirt may end up in the baby's mouth. Perhaps a | | | | of dirt may end up in the baby's mouth. Perhaps a |
| more serious concern is an electrical outlet on the wall. | | | | more serious concern is an electrical outlet on the wall. |
| Buy plastic safety covers to cover the unused outlets. | | | | Buy plastic safety covers to cover the unused outlets. |
| For outlets that must be in use all the time with a lamp | | | | For outlets that must be in use all the time with a lamp |
| or television plugged into it, you may need to get more | | | | or television plugged into it, you may need to get more |
| creative. You can rearrange your furniture so the | | | | creative. You can rearrange your furniture so the |
| outlet and trailing electrical cords are not accessible. | | | | outlet and trailing electrical cords are not accessible. |
| Other things to be wary of is furniture or anything | | | | Other things to be wary of is furniture or anything |
| heavy that could tip if the baby pulls or pushes on it. | | | | heavy that could tip if the baby pulls or pushes on it. |
| Some examples of these are standing floor lamps, | | | | Some examples of these are standing floor lamps, |
| table lamps, a tablecloth with things on top of it, book | | | | table lamps, a tablecloth with things on top of it, book |
| shelves, and drawers. Sharp corners on furniture can | | | | shelves, and drawers. Sharp corners on furniture can |
| be covered with baby safety corner guards. Also be | | | | be covered with baby safety corner guards. Also be |
| sure to put anything that may be poisonous up out of | | | | sure to put anything that may be poisonous up out of |
| reach, such as cleaning supplies and medications, and | | | | reach, such as cleaning supplies and medications, and |
| know your local poison control telephone number. Give | | | | know your local poison control telephone number. Give |
| away any houseplants that may be toxic. Also be | | | | away any houseplants that may be toxic. |
| cautious of certain garage sale bargains or | | | | Also be cautious of certain garage sale bargains or |
| secondhand baby things passed on to you for free. | | | | secondhand baby things passed on to you for free. |
| Old baby cribs or play yards should not have slats with | | | | Old baby cribs or play yards should not have slats with |
| spaces greater than two and three-eighths inches. Old | | | | spaces greater than two and three-eighths inches. Old |
| toy boxes with an ordinary hinged lid are very | | | | toy boxes with an ordinary hinged lid are very |
| dangerous. Newer toy boxes use a safety hinge. A | | | | dangerous. Newer toy boxes use a safety hinge. A |
| child car safety seat should not be used if it is more | | | | child car safety seat should not be used if it is more |
| than five years old and if you do not absolutely know it | | | | than five years old and if you do not absolutely know it |
| could not have been in an accident previously. Toys | | | | could not have been in an accident previously. Toys |
| should be age-appropriate to your child. For a child | | | | should be age-appropriate to your child. For a child |
| under the age of three, a toy should be too large to be | | | | under the age of three, a toy should be too large to be |
| a choking hazard. A rule of thumb is the toy should be | | | | a choking hazard. A rule of thumb is the toy should be |
| too large to pass through a toilet paper roll. The toy | | | | too large to pass through a toilet paper roll. The toy |
| should be very well assembled so no small parts can | | | | should be very well assembled so no small parts can |
| be pulled off. The best way to baby proof your child's | | | | be pulled off. |
| environment is with plenty of adult supervision. You will | | | | The best way to baby proof your child's environment |
| think you have picked up everything the baby could | | | | is with plenty of adult supervision. You will think you |
| possibly get into trouble with, and then you will be | | | | have picked up everything the baby could possibly get |
| amazed that he found something else. It is the rare | | | | into trouble with, and then you will be amazed that he |
| child that does not make it through childhood without a | | | | found something else. It is the rare child that does not |
| scar or two, but with vigilance only minor mishaps will | | | | make it through childhood without a scar or two, but |
| occur. | | | | with vigilance only minor mishaps will occur. |