The 10 Products you Need to Baby-Proof your Home

You welcome your new bundle of joy for the very first time into the safest place there is – your home. With your baby swaddled in a blanket or between bolsters on your bed, you know you can take a shower or do a few chores and he’ll still be right where you left him.  Fast forward to a few months when your little one is rolling over, crawling on his knees and beginning to walk, and suddenly you feel as if every step is an accident waiting to happen. Is there any way you can regain your sense of security without hampering your child’s need to explore?

For Des Camacho-Peterson, new mom to 8-month old Lucas, baby-proofing her home is a necessity. “Before my son starts walking, I will baby proof our home. We live in a condo with stairs and it would be really risky not to have gates, for instance,” she says.

Fellow moms tell us below which babyproofing products they recommend. Listed, too, are safety devices included in Childproofing Your Home, a publication by The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to ease your worries and help keep your children safe in and around your home.

1. Safety latches and locks

Prevent your child from having access to household cleaners, medicines, matches and kitchen utensils that may cause serious harm if ingested or handled by installing locks in cabinets and drawers.

Try:
Safety 1st Cabinet Slide Lock - Php 89.75 at Baby Company
Fixon Child Safety Adjustable Lock for Drawers and Cabinets – Php 44.75 at ACE Hardware

Photo from http://www.justkidsstore.com/prod/safety-1st/cabinet-slide-lock

2. Safety Gates

Mother to Sofia, 5, Noah, 2, and Nathan, 1, Hans Tumabagahan stresses the importance of a child gate. “With two kids and one learning to walk, it is impossible to keep an eye on all three. The gate gives me peace of mind. It also trains them to observe boundaries and stay where it is safe.” The CPSC recommends safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily but that adults can open and close without difficulty. Gates at the top of stairs must be screwed to the wall.

Try:
Dreambaby Hallway Gate - P 4,279.75 at True Value

Photo from http://www.2wired2tired.com/munchkin-baby-gates-contest

[previous|page|next]

3. Door Knob Covers and Door Guards

Safeguard against slamming doors, children wandering into another room or accidentally locking themselves into a room.

Try:
Dreambaby Doorknob Covers – P299.00 at True Value
Safety 1st Finger Pinch Guard – P139.75, Baby Company

Photo from http://www.thebabyhabit.com/products/5504-grip-n-twist-door-knob-cover

 

4. Corner and Edge Bumpers/Cushions

Protect your baby from scrapes or accidental bumps on sharp edges of your furniture. Available in silicone or foam.

Try:
Safety 1st Furniture Corner Cushions – P79.75 for 4pcs. at Baby Company
Safety 1st Corner Edge Cushion Foam – P 499.75 for 4pcs. at Baby Company

Photo from http://www.lilkaistore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=533

[previous|page|next]

5. Outlet Covers

Anne Trazo, mom to Kiko, 13, and Eana, 2, immediately covered electric outlets when she found her daughter trying to plug cords and even a pen into a socket to cover the holes. Quickly plug those outlets to prevent electrocution.

Try:
Omni Outlet Cover – P 69.75 for 10pcs. at ACE Hardware

Photo from http://www.thisnext.com/browse/outlet-covers/

6. Cord Shorteners

Long cords are appealing to kids who love to pull everything. Keep electrical cords short to avoid strangulation. Shorteners may also be used for window blinds’ dangling cords.

Try:
Cable Capture Jr. – P 199.00 at True Value
Cable Capture Organizer Big – P299.00 at True Value

Photo from http://freshome.com/2011/04/22/keep-your-wires-untangled-applecore-cord-organizer/

7. Window Guard

Prevent your child from climbing up window ledges and falling through open windows with locks that keep shutters closed.

Try:
Yale Window Guard - P399.00 at True Value

Photo from http://www.johnsterling.com/wgaccessories.html

8. Floor Mats

RC Go-Aquino, mom to Cody, 9, Dash, 5, and Dyce, 4 months, says, “We have wooden floors that might have nails which could hurt them. Floor mats help prevent accidents. If my baby crawls, rolls and falls, then the soft mat will cushion him.”

Try:
Puzzlemat Foam Set – P 109.75 for 10pcs. at Toys R Us

Photo from askhomedesign.com

[previous|page|next]

9. Non-Skid Tread Tapes

Your child will learn to climb up and down the stairs eventually. Slip resistant tapes and treads help address slip and fall risks. They may also be used for wet areas like showers, tubs and exterior steps.

Try:
3M Indoor/Outdoor Tread Safety Walk – P 669.75 at The D.I.Y. Shop

Photo from http://www.kofflersales.com/anti-slip-tape.asp?cid=23

10. Smoke Detector

Your child may not be able to warn you or call your attention in case of fire. Install smoke detectors inside each bedroom and in other areas of your home to alert you.

Try:
Panasonic Smoke Detector – P1,949.75 at ACE Hardware
Yale Smoke Detector – P999.75 at ACE Hardware

Photo from http://www.sandselectricllc.com/blog/?p=307