What safety stuff before baby crawls/ walks?

morgani

I bought things for the plug sockets they lasted 4 weeks before my son worked out how to remove them!! He was much better at it tham me! So I decided to remove them and I say "no" if I see him near them now.

I do have 3 stair gates but not exactly through choice. I only had one at the bottom of the stairs as my house is rather open plan no doors between living room dining room hall and kitchen so I felt it would make life alot easier. However I did have to put it 2 steps up otherwise my son tried to climb over it, he doesnt seem to be able to manage it where it is! The other ones are in kitchen doorway as I put veg on but I dont allways stay in kitchen while its cooking and one at the top of the stairs. However I was given the last 2 as they were going to be thrown by a friend as she no longer wanted them.

Everything else I just use the "no" word for and move them away so they know they are not allowed to do that!!

Violetta_2

We have 3 stair gates 1 at the kitchen as it's openplan downstairs and sometimes I just need to keep her out of there. Also have 1 at the bottom and top of the stairs. If you can, have the upstairs one back from the top of the stairs rather than right at the top, ours is round the corner so it's in the hall before you turn to the top of the staircase. That way if they do manage to climb over (piling cuddly toys to make a mountain up to the summit of the stairgate) you know about it when they get over it and hopefully before they tumble down the stairs.
A friend lost a sister to a fall on the stairs so I'm bloomin terrified of them I'd move to a bungalow if I could.

geekgirl

Another one here that didn't buy safety stuff. I also used the word no. It is a pain at first because you have to persist and repeat it so much. But it is fantastic when they have learnt you mean it cos when you go to other peoples houses and you can just tell them no and it isn't a nightmare.
That is why my favorite time was just before crawling, they could sit and play with toys and amuse themselves for a little bit but couldn't get into too much trouble. Little darlings!

hayleyc_2

we have 2 stair gates, one between the kitchen and living room, and one at the top of the stairs. I have socket covers in the spare sockets on the landing, but all the other sockets are out of the way anyway. I haven't moved much out of the way, the only thing we do differently is not putting hot drinks within reach, and DS is not allowed in the kitchen on his own so he can't get to the washing liquid etc. Same with the bathroom, so he can't get to the cleaning equipment. I don't try to stop him opening most of the cupboards but I do have elastic bands round the handles of one cupboard so he can't get the iron out. I think as long as he's supervised, I'd rather let him explore and do what he likes

Js_Other_Half

We've just had the maglocks fitted to several of the kitchen cupboards - they're brilliant, but I can foresee a time when we put the magnet down inside one of them and close the door...

We do have socket covers - cheap and cheerful from Ikea. We put Ikea window locks on DS bedroom.
We put a fireguard over the fireplace more to prevent DS tripping and banging his head on the edge of the marble hearth.
3 kiddyguard stairgates as we live in a town house - so living room, dining room and kitchen are on the first floor - we always keep the one on the stairs down to the front door closed, the others I use when I feel they're necessary.

Whilst I believe the word 'no' can be overused, if you save it for important things, then generally most kids get it. I have a large crystal photoframe on some side tables, and DS just looks at it now and doesn't touch.

We also have a playpen in the kitchen that DS can be put in if he's not listening to me and I'm trying to cook- but it rarely gets used now.

pickle

My daughter doesn't understand the word "no" she thinks that it means "go ahead and do it". If you have old style sockets then socket covers don't work, my daughter pulls them out so I've taped over them instead. I put anything poisonous (cleaning products etc) in a basket on top of my kitchen cupboards. The gates are essential and you'll use them a lot. Anything with cords which can be pulled down is a danger and watch out when they start climbing on furniture!

homeaway

gemmaj wrote: »

Hello, I have an almost-9 month old baby girl who is thinking about crawling and/or walking and/or rolling and/or shufflebumming - she can't decide! I am looking at baby proofing the house in preparation. I've been on a website and have been overwhelmed - what do I need?

I have socket covers for the empty plug sockets and have fixed down or hidden all loose cables (lamps etc). I have put all the cleaning stuff in one cupboard and need to lock that somehow - I read that regular cupboard locks are tricky to use and that magnetic ones are better? Do I need to lock all my cupboards or just the cleaning stuff and dustbin - she can't get into that much trouble with a tin of baked beans but I worry about her slamming her fingers in the doors (she has started opening cupboard doors and swinging them!)

The health visitor (which is a swear word in our house) mentioned stair gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, and the nursery door, and I'd want one going into the kitchen - thats 4 which is going to be about £80? :eek:

On the site I was looking at there is Fridge locks, toilet locks, microwave locks, sheets that cover the oven, hob guards, furniture restraint straps (do babies often pull over wardrobes?) ... it goes on.

What do I realistically need as a starting point for a baby who receives average supervision (by which I mean I am a responsible parent - I keep an eye on my little one, but I do not stand within 3 inches of her every second of the day). Thanks!

I live abroad and had plug sockets but some children do find a way around them, my son did. I taught my children to come downstairs backwards as soon as they were crawling. My daughter wedged her head in the baninster trying to escape the stair gate at the bottom of the stairs! Cupboard locks are important or move all toxic products to ontop of the cupboards. A friends son aged 4 poured a cleaning substance all downhimself and had to be hospitalised for weeks as he enhaled the gas. Toddlers also use chairs to climb up high. Some toddlers like eating toilet brushes, putting loo rolls down the toilet... it is impossible to forsee everything . Some toddlers have a knack of pushing the stairgate until it gives way so they dont always work. Some are definitely more adventerous than others. My advice would be shut the doors to the rooms that you dont want them to have access to. I closed the doors of the room i was in with the kids. I had 3 under the age of 4. A play pen might make your life easier.

gemmaj

Wow! Thanks for all the replies.

That has rather cut my shopping list - I shall be buying some cupboard locks just for the cleaning cupboard and bin, and shall wait and see on stairgates. They sound kind-of more dangerous with all these children climbing over them! I have an old style house so rooms with doors, and I already keep the doors shut to contain my dog, so not convinced I will really benefit at the mo! Shall reconsider when she is more mobile.

I have a play pen but its not that popular (when pregnant my OH and I used to discuss whether to buy a play pen for the baby and let the dog loose, or put the dog in the play pen and the baby loose! So far dog is still free, lol!)

Interesting about the plug sockets, I always wondered why there was that extra plastic bit on some plugs!

I planned ahead and already have 2 storage foot rests for junk and a (safety) glass fronted hifi cabinet for hubbies expensive xbox playstation games stuff. At the moment my biggest problem is that if there is a SINGLE dog hair on the floor Annie manages to find it and eat it! Yuck!

Pink_Princess_1

Have you got a Sure Start in your area? we get vouchers for safety gates and fire guards so we only pay £1 towards each one. Would be worth checking out:p

hardpressed

Don't worry too much about you daughter picking up the odd dog hair, it's been proven that children who grow up with animals develope better immunity to bugs.