It is indeed enthralling to see babies crawling on his own. This is a great milestone but with it comes the time when the parents need to keep an eagle eye on the baby. This is a time when anything lying on the floor or within their reach makes babies curious. They do not understand right and wrong so they can end up ingesting it by mistake or catch an infection as well. This is also a time when the parents have to make the house a totally safe place for them. Parents must make a baby proofing checklist when their babies are ready to crawl and take all the steps to make their house safe for the baby.
The house is full of different things that can interest babies. Some are safe yet others can be dangerous. Even the smallest or the most harmless for adults can be a hazard for the baby who has just discovered crawling. Infant injuries such as choking, bruising, falls, cuts, and wounds can all happen if proper precautions are not in place.
In This Article
- What is Baby Proofing?
- When do Babies Start Crawling?
- Why is Baby Proofing Important Before Your Baby Starts Crawling?
- Complete Baby Proofing Checklist For Babies Ready to Crawl
- FAQ’s
What is Baby Proofing?
Baby proofing is the process of making your house safe for your baby and reducing the risk of unnecessary accidents and injuries. When baby proofing, you will restrict your baby to a safe area and prevent their access to unsafe areas of the house.
As a part of babyproofing you will ensure that all electrical outlets are plugged with dummy plugs, all sharp corners are baby proofed with softer materials, drawers are locked, and access to all water sources, medicines, chemicals and fire sources are blocked. Additionally, you may want to provide a soft and comfortable surface to your baby so that they are able to perform the activity without hurting themselves.
When do Babies Start Crawling?
Different babies start crawling at different ages. The average age for crawling in most babies is 9 months. However, some babies may start crawling by 6 to 7 months while others may crawl later than the 9th month. Some babies may skip the crawling stage altogether and start standing and attempt to cruise. This is absolutely normal too.
Why is Baby Proofing Important Before Your Baby Starts Crawling?
With crawling, your baby will learn to explore their surroundings. Some babies may also teeth around this time which will cause them to put anything and everything in their mouth. This can cause contamination and choking risk. As babies move around to explore, they can get hurt due to sharp objects or anything that can cause infant injuries. Crawling babies will start to try to stand with support of anything that they can get their hands at. This can also cause injuries.
Babyproofing your home will keep your baby safe from most of these injuries. It is important to note that you must always monitor your baby at this stage even if you babyproof your home. The smallest of negligence can result in injury which will involve lot of crying and some dangerous situations if your baby gets his hand on medications or chemicals.
[Read : Baby Mouthing]
Complete Baby Proofing Checklist For Babies Ready to Crawl
Babyproofing is vital to ensure your baby’s safety during their growing years It is also very easy to childproof the house as there are a plethora of baby safety products available in the market that guarantee exceptional protection.
A few of the mandatory changes that must be done in the house to keep the baby safe are:
1. Block or Covering Electric Outlets
When the baby starts crawling, the first thing that they get attracted are small little holes of the electrical outlet which are not safe and present all around.
- Cover all electric outlets with childproof outlet covers.
- Keep chargers unplugged and devices unconnected.
- Move cords and cables away from the reach of babies or cover them so that baby cannot accidentally strangulate of choke due to the wires.
2. Keep Cleaning Products and Chemicals Out of Reach
Most cleaning products contain hazardous chemicals that can cause problems if the baby ingests them.
- Keep all cleaning products out of the reach of babies in locked cabinets.
- In case you are not around or on a phone, be vigilant to keep the cleaning product away if you were using it.
- Discard the empty bottles of medicines or paints, these are an area of curiosity and even contain dust which is not good for babies.
[Read : Accidental Poisoning in Babies]
3. Secure Wobbly or Heavy Furniture
Wobbly or heavy furniture are a major source of accidents.
- It is important to keep the heavy and shaky furniture strapped to the wall with babyproof straps.
4. Put Houseplants in Safe Places
Another item or object of curiosity for babies are houseplants as they are easily accessible. So, it is important to keep these plants in safe areas.
- You can cover the plant with a screen or wires so that the plant gets sufficient air and water, but the baby does not put his fingers inside.
- It is best to keep the plants at a height where the baby cannot reach.
- Plants can even be moved to another room but keep the doors locked to prevent the baby getting there.
- It is also advisable to opt for plants that are baby-friendly and aren’t toxic like spider plants, African violets, ferns etc.
[Read : How To Protect Your Baby From Poisonous Plants]
5. Cover Sharp Corners
Sharp corners of furniture can cause cuts and bruises to babies who crawl past them or try to stand using their support.
- It is important to put edge and corner guards on all corners of beds, tables, and everything else which has sharp corners.
- You can even use bumper strips as well.
Thus, it is important to get baby proofing done before the baby starts crawling to ensure a relaxed and safe environment for the baby and parents. You must also be careful and constantly monitor your baby during their play time and activity time.
FAQ’s
1. Should Babies Wear Knee Pads When Crawling?
Knee pads are undoubtedly good while the baby starts crawling. As it helps them to prevent accidents that happen due to the lack of proper balance and coordination. But do check with your pediatrician if you plan to use knee pads for your munchkin. Some experts believe that knee pads can interfere with the senses of the baby, preventing contact between the knees and the crawling surface. It is advisable to limit the use of knee pads and use as and when needed only.
2. What is the Best Surface For a Baby to Learn Crawling?
A carpet is a great place for a baby to learn to crawl. This is a smooth surface for the baby to crawl on and does not hurt them. You should however be careful that the carpet is cleaned regularly as carpets can be a source of contamination.
3. When Do Babies Start Crawling?
Babies start crawling around eight months and thus it best to childproof the house before they start off exploring all places which are not safe.
