Child safety fears

[BeanieRoo]

I'm a mum with a beautiful 5 y/o daughter and am 6 months pregnant with a boy.
I've been with my partner for nearly 3 years and he's fantastic with my daughter. The problem is that he seems to have a huge chip on his shoulder about being told how to do anything! I've spent the last year of us living together asking him to remember to turn plugs off/cover them. There's so much to remember about child safety that I would like him to start mentally preparing so it's not so overwhelming once our son is here. I know he won't be crawling for a while but the sockets is just one thing, there's a ton of other things I find myself repeating again and again re: child safety and I'm so sick of him belittling my worries. He always has an excuse but all it takes is one forgetful moment for an accident to happen. As I already have a child I have experience in child proofing a home and would appreciate him heeding my advice but I find his forgetful, flippant attitude arrogant, immature and worrying!
What would you do??

Well, you shouldn't use plug socket covers any more, so that doesn't matter. It's hard to know from your post if you're being paranoid or he's being an idiot but either way, a baby safety and first aid course might be of benefit? Will give him an idea of the sorts of dangers he needs to be alert to and get you up to date with the latest advice.

Agree with above that it isn't recommended to use plug covers now.

For me, the only things we've ever done are stairgates, lock on the cleaning cupboard under sink, attaching tv to the wall, attaching those dangerous Ikea cabinets to the wall and keeping medicines well out of reach (sounds like a lot now I've written it down) but most of them are one time things and once they are done they are done and neither of you have to worry about them again really.

Make a list of what you think needs to be done and divvy up the responsibility between you.

Yes, the plug socket covers are dangerous if you are in the UK. Even if they aren't turned off UK sockets aren't dangerous. We have the safest sockets around.
It's hard to know from your post if you're anxious or DP is not aware of realistic risk.

From your posting history OP you fell out with your daughter's father about safety while you were pregnant with her. While that was clearly a very poor relationship and you're much better off out of it, I do wonder if perhaps it suggests you are possibly a little paranoid about safety? Do you have anxiety in any other form? (I say this as someone who does and has had very effective treatment.)

I've spent the last year of us living together asking him to remember to turn plugs off/cover them. There's so much to remember about child safety that I would like him to start mentally preparing so it's not so overwhelming once our son is here. I know he won't be crawling for a while but the sockets is just one thing, there's a ton of other things I find myself repeating again and again re: child safety and I'm so sick of him belittling my worries. He always has an excuse but all it takes is one forgetful moment for an accident to happen.

Why on earth are you having a child with a man who can't think for himself about basic safety?

I've spent the last year of us living together asking him to remember to turn plugs off/cover them.
Why? If your DD is 5 then she’s surely well past that stage and anyway, covers aren’t recommended in the UK.

You also don’t need to mentally prepare for baby proofing. Once your new baby becomes mobile, do the usual stuff like stair gates, strapping dangerous furniture, putting cleaning products/medicines in lockable cupboards or well out of reach and job done. If your DP isn’t totally feckless then he should take the risk seriously once the baby is actually here. Bringing it up when you’re pregnant isn’t going to achieve anything because he can’t do anything about it right now. However, you could suggest you both do a baby/child first aid course- that’s not a bad idea anyway!

Whay @ShyTown said