making my house safe ...

[nappyaddict]

do you have a cupboard lock on your cleaning cupboard?

i have got a stair gate for the top of the stairs mainly because i can't keep an eye on ds crawling about whilst i am in and out of different rooms.

as of yet we haven't got any other safety items because ds has not shown any curiosity for going places he shouldn't.

Don't risk it - definitely get cleaning cupboard locks as your DS might show an interest all of a sudden when you're not expecting it.

type homecheck into google some councils do it. It's a really good service where you pay £10 and a home safety person comes round and tells you what you need. Included in the £10 is socket covers and cupboard locks for your whole house. This is the link to the fareham council site that explains it better than I do! www.fareham.gov.uk/council/departments/housing/homecheck.asp My DD is only 4mths so haven't had it done yet but sounds good to me!

You can buy a whole pack, including door jammers, fridge lock, dvd/video lock/lots of socket covers and cupboard door locks for around a tenner from Mothercare/Tesco/Jo Jo Maman Bebe etc.

easier to keep cleaning stuff in high cupboard and move pans / tupperware to a low one IME.

I never needed cupboard locks for my ds's but i did for my dd's! Lock is still on the cleaning cupboard just in case.

Still have a stairgate at the top of the stairs although its probably not needed now.

Only have socket things in bedrooms because the scoket is on the wall by their beds.

Door jammers because if both back and front door gets opened the front room door slams!

I did need a toilet lock for DS1!

If you have a poundland near you they do the safety packs in there rather than spending £10.

we keep cleaning things up high wehre they can't reach - but also have a catch on that cupboard in case they get curious

We also had/still have a plastic cupboard brim packed with everything plastic that the DCs know id their's. So that's always been a more interesting option for them than smashing plates in my other cupboards.

This is what's included for £10 on the homecheck service

fitting security chains to doors
putting safety film on glass that could be potentially dangerous, which is not 'British Standard Glass'
supply and fit smoke detectors and/or testing existing ones
fitting window 'securistays' to enable windows to be opened partially, so children cannot get out or fall from higher level windows
socket covers, cupboard locks, fridge locks, toilet locks, door jammers, corner cushions for sharp corners and non-slip rubber bath mats to make bath time safer
visual safety and security survey
safety checks on all electrical appliances, we can help you to ensure that plugs are properly wired, fused and that flexes are in good condition
specific advice and guidance on accident prevention in the home for families with children under 5

I put kiddilocks on dangerous cupboards and drawers btu didn't bother with a stairgate.
Taught dd from an early age (a la Justine and Carrie) to teach dd to come down backwards.She is now 2 and (so far,fingers crossed,touch wood etc) no accidents yet).

We have not moved any prnaments etc,believe dd has to understand "no" and "careful" for when we visit firnds who do not have child-friendly houses.

Yes, all bottom cupboards locked because I find it easier than keeping the boys out of the kitchen/keeping other people's kids out of the kitchen/putting all the tupperware back in the cupboards after they have emptied it out. So laziness on my part really

Make sure everything in low cupboards is save and non breakable, then you've got a ready made LO entertainer whenever you need one. Stairgate maybe, but IMO better to spend some time with lo helping them to learn how to negotiate stairs safely. Those rubbery things that fit over the tops of doors so they can't slam are good too.

tortoise did you have a lock on the cleaning cupboard with your ds'?

how can i teach a 12 month old to crawl downstairs backwards then?

nappyaddict No i didn't because neither of them worked out how to open the cupboards when they were little. DD's were very quick to learn how to open them!