By Daily Press staff
You probably think you’ve thought of all the things you need before bringing your new baby home: Layette, crib, car seat, blankets, diapers, even a mobile to keep them entertained. In the nine months before birth, however, many parents forget to baby proof their house — one of the most crucial steps in providing baby a safe and loving place to come home to.
Even though your new baby won’t be exploring on their own for several months, the period before delivery is a perfect time to start making your home a child friendly place. Some of the most important areas to your baby proof include the kitchen, the bathroom and garage.
BABY PROOFING THE KITCHEN The kitchen is one of the most potentially dangerous areas in your home. Household cleansers are a leading cause of poisoning in babies and young children. To make your kitchen safe, be sure to fasten safety latches on all cupboards and drawers you do not want the baby getting into. It’s OK to give them free access to the pots and pans, but under no circumstances should they be able to open cupboards where cleaning products are stored. In case of accidental ingestion, call your poison control center or 911 immediately.
Another good idea is a garbage can with a strong latch. Babies and little children love to make a mess.
BABY PROOFING THE BATHROOM Babies love water. They love to splash in their baths, and enjoy watching and listening to water as it comes out of the faucet. It’s important, however, to control access to water for babies and toddlers. For starters, make sure you adjust your hot water heater to a safe level. This will prevent scalds if the baby accidentally turns on the faucet. It’s also important to put a latch on the toilet to prevent small children from sticking their hands in the bowl and even falling face down into the toilet. And remember: Never leave the baby alone in a bathtub.
Lots of the cosmetic and personal toiletry items stored in bathrooms can be harmful to babies and children. In particular, medications need to be kept away from little hands. Bathrooms also are a place where many people keep cleaning products. Make sure you put a safety latch on any cupboards you don’t want the baby to explore.
BABY PROOFING THE GARAGE The garage is a dangerous place for babies and small children. They should only be allowed in the garage when supervised by an adult. To be on the safe side, store tools in an area out of the baby’s reach and put safety locks on any cabinets where you store potentially toxic substances.
Most importantly, babies and toddlers should never play in or around cars, driveways and garages. The potential for an automobile accident is just too high. To keep little ones out of harms way, install safety gates as needed and try to provide a dedicated outdoor play area that can be enclosed for safety.
A PLACE TO TURN FOR ANSWERS It isn’t easy remembering all the things you need to do to protect your precious little one, but there are resources to help you. For example, after delivering your baby at the new McAlister Women’s Health Center at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, nurses and other experts will be on hand to answer your questions and provide you with reassurance. To take a tour of the McAlister Women’s Health Center and the Maria Shriver Nursery, call (310) 829-8794.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 16, 2004. Read the original PDF.