Baby proofing is probably one of the most talked about mommy topics as baby becomes mobile and starts discovering all that is wonderful (and dangerous) in their world. I barely touched on the subject before (at the very VERY bottom of “Gearing Up for Baby”) and there’s a really good reason I haven’t tackled the topic yet despite having 3 wonderfully curious little ones: I don’t really baby proof.
Of course my children’s safety is my top priority, but I have never felt the need to fully baby-proof my home. Instead, I believe in good supervision and a teaching a baby (yes, a baby) limits. Doodle is already starting to understand when I tell him “no”. If he has something in his hand and I tell him “not for your mouth” he will either move on (possibly with the item still in hand, but not in his mouth) or he will do the long stare and slow approach to the mouth. Both indicate he understands when I’m saying. He’s also started having extreme reactions to being told “no”. Just yesterday he bumped something on our end table (which is full of stuff he’s not allowed to have) and knocked over a soda can. I immediately exclaimed “Doodle, not nice! That is not for you!” and he immediately took to his huge (and insanely adorable) pouty face before bursting in to tears. I know he’s little and will continue to explore and even test, but I make sure someone is always watching him in order to ensure he is always safe.
We have very few rules for the girls in our house, but most of them are safety related (or health) and my girls know that when I say something it is because my mommy job is to keep them safe. They know what they are allowed to play with and what is off limits and they know messing with something that they shouldn’t comes with unpleasant consequences. Sure they test and try to be sneaky, but I am usually aware of their whereabouts and doings and strongly believe in natural consequences for poor choices and if they do get (minorly) hurt I tell them why and how their choices affected their outcomes.
Of course, there are things that require more than good supervision, rules, natural consequences and trust. Here are the few baby-proofing things we have done to keep the little ones safe:
All of our cleaning supplies are kept up high where I can barely reach them!
We use cabinet locks on the cupboards in our bathroom where the toiletries are kept (honestly this is more because I got tired of Doodle knocking everything out!)
We cover all the free outlets in all the rooms where they children regularly play or sleep.
We use baby gates to corral the baby in whatever room we are currently in.
We keep all the toys with small pieces in the girls’ room where Doodle never goes without an adult.
That’s it. All our kitchen cupboards are open for playing (I try to keep all fragile items in the kitchen in upper cabinets where the baby can’t pull them out.) Our oven and toilets are open, our corners and edges are exposed, our tub faucet is accessible (and Doodle loves turning it on!) and our doorknobs all work and doors can be shut!
These are great, helpful hints. We made the mistake of not baby proofing our house quite enough a few years ago. Totally regretted it when Jack started playing with a cabinet and it came crashing down on his foot. Worst parenting mistake ever!
OUCH! I think sometimes, though, going over the top with baby-proofing can give a false sense of total safeness which is not really possible. I know my house is not baby proof so it forces me to stay on top of what my kids are up to in order to make sure they’re safe at all times and as such, we have very few accidents.
Oh my gosh, that’s *exactly* what I needed to read, thank you! I feel the same way about too much baby-proofing: at some point, that protection has to get taken away, and will they think it’s a free-for-all and just hurt themselves more? I remember there was a distinct period for me between ages four and five where I got stitches in two different situations and ate lawn mushrooms in another (separate also) situation. And I was the safest kid out of my siblings after that.
Of course, there are still a few things that I’m sure should be done, but I was a little lost as to what. This helps a lot!
Thanks for the post!
Glad it helped, Brittany! I agree that often times “baby-proofing” turns into toddler proofing then child proofing and instead of teaching a child rules, limitations and boundaries, you’re reliant on the physical barriers and reminders.