babyproofing. tell me what you've done?

[rainbowmoon]

we are babyproofing the whole house and don't want to overlook anything. besides the obvious electrical outlet covers and cupboard locks what have you mamas done in your homes to make it safer for baby?

[the_lissa]

Toilet locks?

[Calidris]

Apart from the outlets, what we did is raise all our powerstrips and electrical cords off the ground (dp built little shelves). Blocked off the aquariums by rearranging the furniture and keep the bathroom door closed.
We gate the kitchen because it isn't a very safe place, and we can't afford a new stove right now.
That's about it.

[intensity_too]

If you're not going to gate off your kitchen entirely get a fridge lock . . . unless you like ketchup all over EVERYTHING! We got those door knob thingies so the kids couldn't get into the bathrooms. It was easier than baby proofing the bathrooms themselves. We also put the door knob thingies on the door to the basement and the garage. Oh and we got a lock for our sliding glass door.

[sbmama]

I can't take credit for this idea (I read it somewhere at MDC) but we keep a little basket or box in the most-used rooms to put small objects that inevitablely end up on the floor (pennies, plastic tags from clothes, paper clips, large dust bunnies). The basket/box stays up on a shelf, and it just became habit to scan a room and throw anything in there that was chokable. I suppose you are supposed to empty the basket at some point. :LOL

Other than that, the usual cabinet locks except on cabinets that hold stuff ds can play with, lots of empty bottom (and 2nd, 3rd) shelves and drawers. We also just close the doors to rooms that are off-limits and it's almost time to invest in the doorknob covers and some sort of front stove guard since ds seems to get taller by the minute.

The Christmas tree was an interesting challenge...

good luck!

Heidi

[rainbowmoon]

thanks so much for all of the suggestions! we are going to shop for alot of these things soon! we are doing the cupboard locks tonight as ds just learned how to open them yesterday!

never thought of a fridge lock though

I am definitly rethinking the xmas tree as ds is walking all over the place. I just don't feel up to dealing with it. maybe we will get a small potted one though and keep it on the table or something.

[Isis]

I heard some mamas used a playpen for the Christmas tree... put the tree in the playpen... it should be used for something! :LOL

[giarose]

Rainbowmoon: your little boy is soooo cute!!! I love all the pictures! Anywho... instead of a christmas tree we bought a rosemary plant and decorated it. We can keep it on a table that ds can't get too and it smells so nice!!!

[Dreaming]

Childproofing...let's see...
We bought:
4 gates for stairways
Outlet covers
Padding for bricks on fireplace

We also:
Put our mattress on the floor
Removed any "tippy" furniture or blocked access to it (put lamp behind the couch).
Make it a habit to look out for choking hazards.
Keep floors clean because she licks them.

I still need to put cords out of reach. She loves finding cords.

It's nice to have one room that I know she's safe in because I know I can relax and not worry she's in potential danger.

hth