Baby proofing

[ShinyDiscoBalls]

Does anyone have any tips for babyproofing the house?
I have done the usual, covers for sockets and moving things from DS's reach- is there anything else anyone found invaluable when baby started becoming mobile?

[Heirhelp]

Place marking. Stair gates?

[hollinhurst84]

Don't use socket covers, it's safer without

[ShinyDiscoBalls]

Whys that hollin?

[hollinhurst84]

UK sockets have in built safety
http://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk
plenty of threads on here about them too

[Lovelongweekends]

Don't use socket covers - more dangerous than without.
Corner cushions where needed.
Stair gates
Front of oven protector

[MrsJamin]

To be honest, wait until you see what becomes a big problem - some children are avid climbers, some are very curious about other things - don't make your house into fort knox needlessly as you might not be able to predict what is unsafe for your DC. Also for some things your DC might respond to 'no' or 'don't touch'.

[NerrSnerr]

Agree with not using the socket covers. We have cupboard door latches for the kitchen (but keep the pan and Tupperware cupboards unlocked so she can play with them). We also make sure all heavy furniture is secure.

[MrsMillions]

Cupboard catches on any cupboards they could reach that you don't want them to open, e.g. If cleaning products or lots of breakable china inside.

Strap to tether TV to TV stand.

Check length and safety of any window blind cords.

[NerrSnerr]

Oh and we have stair gates at the bottom and top of stairs.

[ShinyDiscoBalls]

Ahhh interesting about the socket covers!!
Great thanks for all the tips

[switswoo81]

We put TV up on the wall and stair gates. Have installed the safety chains for blinds too.

[purpleporpoise]

Depends on your house layout. We have a safety gate top and bottom of stairs , and lounge door to kitchen. DS is cruising and crawling and only goes in the kitchen with supervision so we haven't fitted any cupboard locks in there. We have them though ready but he's not worked out they open.
We moved everything upwards in rooms he goes in

[eurochick]

Cleaning products and glasses out of reach or behind child locks. Stair gates. That was all we did.

[NannyR]

Furniture such as chests of drawers and bookcases need to be fastened to the wall. You can buy fixing kits.

[ShinyDiscoBalls]

He mostly goes in the lounge really, and I think I am more concerned about sharp corners than anything else. We have a lovely marble fireplace which worries me a lot whenever he goes near it! Never use the fire so not too concerned about that.
Tv definitely needs to be sorted as that is at baby level now he's pulling himself up!

[kiki22]

I always think that if you over baby proof then they get frustrated with so many limitations in exploration and try to get into things, also its harder to teach them how to be safe outside if home is so safe they never need to think about it. I had a gate on the kitchen door a lock on the outside of the bathroom door and a lock on the kitchen cupboard with breakables and all cleaning products were moved to a high cupboard.

[Mishaps]

Blind cord safety devices.

[Caterina99]

We taped a blanket over our raised stone fireplace hearth. DS runs full pelt around the living room and it was far too stressful trying to keep him off it all the time. Also my friend has cardboard over hers for presumably the same reason.

[Meadows76]

I had the odd gate. I never went as far as cupboard locks in the kitchen, little ones were never in the kitchen unsupervised so it was much better just to teach them not to go into the cupboards. Sometimes a physical boundary isn't necessary. I would play it by ear and see how your little one goes.

[Inthehighcastle]

I agree with the pp, if you have a climber all furniture must be screwed to the wall. DS had probably a very lucky escape when he opened all the drawers in his chest of drawers and tried to climb up them, the whole thing tipped into him. We were lucky that he managed to get so high before it tipped that it didn't land on his head and we were both literally in the next room I think we caught it before the full weight landed on him but it didn't half give me a kick up the backside about baby proofing the furniture.

[user1471507699]

Watch batteries are really dangerous if swallowed. They are in things like bathroom scales. Worth making sure they can't get them out.

[Meadows76]

Watch batteries are really dangerous if swallowed. They are in things like bathroom scales. Worth making sure they can't get them out. or perhaps not leaving your baby alone in the bathroom would cover that

[user1471507699]

Well obviously. But if you don't know it is a risk you won't know to keep children away from it. It was in the news where an 18 month old got one out the scales and swallowed it. The mum realised straight away but it still burnt a hole so she is currently being tube fed. I imagine the mum may have thought she was happily and safely playing with the scales whilst she was getting ready. They are also in things like car fobs, electric candles, children's talking books, old toys like Tamagochis.

[purpleporpoise]

Blind cords all got tied round the tops.

I put a blanket on the marble hearth to pad it. It seems to work. Our fire is disconnected so,I didn't see the point of a fire guard