What safety stuff before baby crawls/ walks?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

A Stair Gate for child and dog to cry over at the kitchen door can be useful, so you don't end up stepping back from the oven and treading on said child/dog (cats are a different matter, because they can squeeze through). It may also be useful to separate small child from dog at dinner time with stair gate - DD2 was found at 9 months having shoved dog out of the way so she could enjoy the crunchy, meaty kibble. (Poor dog - she then proceeded to shove little fingers in his mouth to check that he wasn't hiding any crunchies in there)

Once they can pull themselves up/climb stairs, bookcases are very tempting challenges, so the straps are actually well worth it, particularly as they tend to contain the precious things that are no longer at eye level.

Other than that, both my DDs have sustained most injuries since they got older - from learning to ride/skate/climb trees etc - and I never bothered with anything else, except I put an old milk tub and wooden spoon in the front of the cleaning cupboard - that way DDs announced their presence in the wrong cupboard by banging their own alarm!

heather38

we have a stair gate at the top of the stairs and socket covers in her room and thats it,
she knows not to touch cups/mugs and the oven and if she sees one will say hot!
she is often in the kitchen cupboards but i don't mind that, that's how kids learn, we have only had one accident where she ate a tin of black shoe polish, not an easy thing to clean i can tell you!!! and at 22 months she knows not to mess under the sink.

brummiebabe

Agree about stair gates at top & bottom of the stairs (although they're a pain!) We have socket covers - my DD is 22 months and has had a fascination with plugs for ages:rolleyes:

Also have cupboard locks on the under sink cupboard & one other - she mastered how to open them about 3 months ago:rotfl: - my DS1 aged 8 hasn't really worked it out yet!! She can get into the other cupboards, play with pots, pans etc....don't mind really!

We also have window locks on the upstairs UPVC windows - they open out fully - didn't fancy my children falling out;)

Move anything you don't want damaged - makes life less stressful!

We've never had an oven guard - she's knows it's hot & to stay away from it!

Keep bathroom door shut - then they won't get into too much mischief!!

They're only little for a short while & so it's not TOO bad - having said that, I can't wait to remove the stair gates!! DD does walk downstairs now, but will wait until she's a bit older before they come off totally!!

milliebear00001

'No' won't work for all of them! My daughter wasn't dissuaded by anything, but my son is much more docile and generally does as he's told!

I'd suggest moving all your drugs and poisons to a high cupboard with a lock. Stairgate top and bottom if poss. Fireguard if you have a fire and socket covers. Otherwise, just grow some eyes in the back of your head like other mums and dads! You also need to accept that a certain amount of risk is inevitable, and some is necessary - for example, when she's old enough, TEACH her how to climb down the stairs safely (backwards on hands and knees). Also, don't make the mistake of thinking that if you 'babyproof' everything, you don't need to be just as vigilant! Double also, don't forget about the stuff that isn't so obvious - are there blind cord or curtains within reach of the cot? Are you using a babywalker? Can she turn the taps on? Can he reach door handles? Welcome to the world of parenting the mobile!

Becles

gemmaj wrote: »

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!

My dogs have given my children their dog toys and bones to chew on - yuck! But it never did them any harm.

Also caught my 13 old neice and my dog licking each other at the weekend - big yuck!

Melon78

When my sons were younger all we had was a stair gate on the lounge door, once they'd learnt to safely go up and down the stairs we moved the gate to the kitchen door. We did add socket covers as youngest was very intirgued by the sockets and didn't want him sto start poking things in. About to start baby proofing again for our daughter and it'll be a bit harder this time, won't be able to rely on the 1 stair gate in case our DSs forget to shut it.

Will put a cupboard lock on the cleaning cupboard, corner protectors in the playroom and the foam door slam stopper things. Will still put a stair gate in the lounge door and hope for the best!

Agutka

Lol at all the dog stories. Mine is trying to get used to this new pet being on the loose. She gives me the 'do I have to put up with this' look when ds takes an interest in her.

Not sure about the 'no' strategy. We (11mo ds and I!) had a huge fight earlier over the telephone. Ended in a paddy and a 10 minute you'd-think-he-was-dying cry! We're not consistent though, which I know from dog training is a big no no. Yet more feelings of failure for me like after the whole weaning fiasco...

ailuro2

'No' works, but when you're having a poo and your little one is in the cleaning cupboard what are you going to do?

'No' works when you're there, tbut you can't trust a toddler to remember it every time.

Especially when the cleaners are such nice bright colours!!


Put the really dangerous stuff up high (ours is still there, the bread and cereal is kept in the cupboard under the sink in our home)

Take away the sharp objects too, cut the loop of your blinds and tie a know in the end to stop them fraying - kids die every year getting caught in Venetian blind loops.

I'd still teach her not to open cupboard doors, but not necessarily have locks on them if it's only tins or bread in them - but what about when a jar of Dolmio is thrown on the floor and breaks??:eek:

you need to work out the biggest risks and remove them, and teach her with what's left.

Becles

ailuro2 wrote: »

'No' works, but when you're having a poo and your little one is in the cleaning cupboard what are you going to do?

I wouldn't leave my toddler alone anywhere.

When I need the loo, and take her into the bathroom with me. I keep a book in our bathroom for her to look at while I'm busy, or she plays with her ducks if I use the childrens bathroom.

She comes with me when I'm busy. eg I was ironing in the utility room yesterday so I fetched a shape sorter through and she sat and played with that, and played with the dog (his bed is through there too) while I was busy.

If the bell goes or the phone rings, I pick her up and take her with me too.

edgar

Why dont you hire a baby sitter as she would be looking after her and especially she could watch your daughter that she wont try to find dogs hair ,and a nannie can perhaps helps in getting her habbit away ,,,try this idea too

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