Step-by-Step Guide to Childproofing Your Home

Got a bundle of joy on the way? Or maybe you’ve got nieces and nephews coming to stay; either way, if there are going to be kids in your home, you need to know how to keep ‘em safe. Unless you fancy watching them 24 hours a day that is. But if that doesn’t appeal, then child proofing your home is the next best thing, and it doesn’t have to be a hassle if you do it right. Follow our simple tips and tackle a few odd jobs to make child proofing quick, easy and stress free, then once you’re done you can have a cup of tea and let the kids loose (you might still want to check up on them occasionally).

Tip One: Do it early - you’ve got a new baby on the way, you’re excited, terrified and stressed in equal measure. You’re desperately preparing for your new arrival, but there’s still tons to do. It might be tempting to leave baby proofing until the last minute (after all the baby can’t get into trouble until it’s born, right?). This is a good idea in theory, but believe us; when you’re sleep deprived, constantly on edge, and spend all your time staring adoringly at your baby; child proofing will be the furthest thing from your mind. You might be able to drag yourself away to do the home repairs needed, but it’s a much safer bet if you do it before the baby arrives. That way you know they’re safe from the off. 

Tip two: Start small – you might be looking round your home and thinking of all the disastrous ways your kids can hurt themselves using the more obvious things in your home like the iron or kettle.  But when baby proofing it helps to think like a child; so think small – think about what they can reach at their height. Often the most dangerous things are the smallest things like plug sockets, and basically anything they can get their tiny fingers in are ripe for danger. Start with the plug sockets, and anything electrical on the floor, then work your way up. If you feel unsure, turn to a professional electrician. 

Tip three: Stairway to heaven – let’s face it, stairs are a danger for anyone; ask any adult you know and they’ve probably had an altercation with a stairway fairly recently. The fact that even adults aren’t safe from stairs, shows this should definitely be top of the list for child proofing (assuming you have stairs in your home obviously). A simple solution is a stairgate, which simply slots in, but make sure it fits! It’s all well and good having a stairgate, but if your child can knock it down, or slip through it, you might as well have filled the gap with air for all the good it will do. Don’t skimp when it comes to stair gates, it’s just not worth the risk. A good carpenter can always help you out. 

Tip four: Do It Yourself (or don’t) – if you’re a handy sort, then child proofing your home will probably take you a few hours max. You might even enjoy it. If you’re not, it will certainly take a lot longer, and you probably won’t. If you’re not sure about where to start with child proofing (and wrapping your baby in bubble wrap doesn’t count), there’s no shame in calling the experts in. This is your pride and joy, so keeping them safe should be priority number one, and if you’re not sure you can do a competent job at this type of home repairs, ask someone who can (neighbour, family member, or handyman). That way you know your child will be safe, and you don’t have to worry about accidentally nailing yourself to any child locks.