Having a baby, especially your first is very scary. They do not come with instructions and no parent ever feels ready. In talking to a friend with a two month old, she mentioned that she has no idea when and how to babyproof her house. I certainly did not know this when my son was a baby either.

I ended up hiring a company to come out and do a consultation to tell me what and when I should start babyproofing. The gentleman then proceeded to sell me on the fact that he had far superior products than any stores and I should have him baby proof the house. So, I did for $500…Yikes! I was taken, as his products were the same as the Amazon ones that I purchased, and it took him all of thirty minutes to baby proof everything in the house. Babyproofing is crucial to keeping your baby safe and it is fairly inexpensive.

Once your baby is born, it’s never too early to start thinking about childproofing your home, even though they will not be mobile for many months. Below are a list of things you must do to keep your baby safe once they start crawling.

• Baby proof everything below counter height

• If you are using a baby monitor, make sure the electrical cord does not hang down into the crib or where the baby can reach it

• All furniture, chests of drawers and televisions should be strapped to the wall so they do not tip over

• Place gates at the top and bottom of your staircase

• Put a fence around the pool, in case your little one crawls out the door. Pool fences are expensive, but worth the money. Do not skimp on the pool fence. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is one of the top five causes of death in children between the ages of one and fourteen

• Baby proof all doors so you child cannot get outside on their own. And, if you have a home alarm, set it to make a sound if a windows or doors are opened

• Make sure the baby cannot crawl out the doggie door

• Put a childproof handle on the bathroom door. Believe it or not, many babies and toddlers have fallen into toilets

• Put a toilet lock on the toilet cover

• Put covers over all electrical outlets outlets and make sure all cords and plugs are not accessible

• Put all your vitamins and medications in a locked cabinet

• Store any chemicals, laundry detergent, etc in a closed cabinet with a childproof lock on it

• Make sure the cords on your blinds are not hanging in a place your child can reach

• Check that all sharp corners on fireplaces, tables, etc. are protected with rubber childproofing items

Before starting the process, do a thorough analysis of your house. I know this sounds strange, but crawl on the floor like a baby and take note of all hazards. You’ll be amazed at how many things are at the baby’s level that are dangerous. For instance, many people do not think about electrical cords or blind cords. Babies could wrap them around their necks.

Being a parent is wonderful, and stressful at the same time. Keeping your baby safe should be your top priority knowing your home is a safe place for your baby to blossom and grow will give you the peace of mind to enjoy every minute. . Make sure you know how and when to make your house a safe haven for your little one.

For more great tips, check out: Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions by Blythe Lipman