Taking a baby home is a completely new field for new parents. The home that you lived in before usually needs complete renovations to be ready for children. Things that you and your spouse can deal with are usually not something that babies can handle. There are specific ways to baby-proof your house to make it easier to bring a child into the picture. These tasks are simple and just require being hyper-vigilant.
This doesn’t mean you have to change everything, but there are simple steps you can take to make sure your baby will be safe in the house. Let’s go over some things you can do to make your home perfect for your new baby.
Check Your Electricity/Appliances
The most important thing you can do is to check the electricity and appliances in your house. You want to make sure that all of them are up-to-date and running well. You don’t want anything that could be a potential problem, like loose wires or machines that aren’t working.
If you bring your baby home and things aren’t working properly, something could easily go wrong. You might end up accidentally injuring yourself or your child through electrical issues.
You also want to check that outlets are covered, and any cords are out of reach or taped down. While your newborn will be in a crib for several months, once they figure out how to crawl, they can easily get into dangerous electrical objects that could end up hurting them if you don’t take necessary precautions.
Check the Moisture Levels
Another thing that you can easily check is the moisture levels in your home. Having damp homes can affect your health as well as your child’s. Lots of moisture could lead to mold and mildew.
These things are extremely dangerous for babies. Your baby could get a respiratory infection or develop serious allergies if exposed to mold or mildew. If it’s just mild mold, it is fine to fumigate your house for a week or so before your baby arrives. The mold will go away if you keep your house dry and get rid of the source. It might have been loose pipes or a leak in the roof, but the mold will go away if you stop it at the source.
If it’s more serious, such as black mold, it will be a little harder to deal with. This could easily become fatal for your child. Black mold requires a professional to come to your house and deal with the issue.
Storing Dangerous Objects
The easiest part of baby-proofing a house is taking all your dangerous objects and putting them in safe places. This is also the part that some people could forget. The dangerous objects in houses include knives, large round objects, and anything a baby could potentially put in their mouth.
Having a baby is a huge responsibility that most parents are ready for, but everyone is human. There could be things that you don’t even think about that could be dangerous for your child. It’s best to put away whatever you think could be dangerous (even a pillow with lots of strings attached could be something your baby can swallow).
Stocking Up
Before your baby arrives, you’ll want to stock up on lots of different supplies. This means not only for your child but also for you and your spouse/other family members. You want to have plenty of baby food, diapers, clothes, etc. ready for when your child comes home.
On your end, you want to stock up on food, toiletries, and things to take care of the laundry and kitchen. When your baby arrives, you want to put your bundle of joy first. If you stock up on supplies beforehand, you have more time to dedicate to your child during their formative years.
Having a baby is a huge responsibility. Make sure that your home is baby-proof before bringing new life in by following these simple steps.
