Bringing home a new baby can be an exhilarating experience, but it can also be fraught with stress and uncertainty. Preparing your home before your child is born is can help you to ease into parenthood with one less thing to worry about.
1. In terms of general issues, outlet covers are critical, as are hand rails and safety gates for your stairs. Prepare your pets for the arrival of the new member of the household by bringing home the hospital blanket with the baby’s scent on it and letting your pets get familiar with the smell. Smoke detectors are required outside every bedroom and on each level of your home, and carbon monoxide detectors should be on each floor as well. Also, put bumpers on all tables with sharp edges and remove glass-top tables.
2. The kitchen is an area of concern with a new baby entering the picture. Lock away hazardous cleaning solutions, and put locks on accessible cabinets and on the refrigerator. Glassware, china and knives should be kept in higher cabinets. Never leave pots boiling on the stove when you are not in the kitchen, and make sure that the handles of pots and pans on the stove are not accessible to little ones.
3. In terms of doors and windows, it is important to lock any exit out of the home. One of the most hazardous and commonplace issues is that of cords on window treatments, including blinds. If the cords hang very low, a child can get caught in them, so they should be secured well out of the reach of babies.
4. There are many things that could be a danger to a child in the bathroom. Purchase a reliable toilet seat lid-lock and put away such potentially hazardous items such as hair dryers, curling irons, razors, nail clippers and scissors. It’s a good idea to place a non-slip mat in your tub, and even a handrail if you feel it is necessary.
5. There was a recent law banning the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs in May of 2010. Many parents have relied on this style of crib for generations, but they should no longer be used, even if you currently have one in your home. They have been proven to be harmful, and many injuries and fatalities have occurred using this type of crib.
Some things in life are too important to do haphazardly, and preparing your home so that it is safe for your baby is one of them. Getting ready for your child’s homecoming will mean one less thing to worry about, and you can put all of your energy and attention into enjoying this precious time with your new baby.
Ruth Williams writes on nearly every topic you can imagine, including online degree programs and online colleges for working adults.
