Baby Safety 101: The Top 10 Must-Have Products to Babyproof Your Home

Now that your bundle of joy is coming, there’s plenty to consider. You will undoubtedly need to make several changes in your life only to make room for the new baby. You will discover as a parent that you no longer have the luxury of sleeping through the night. Even if your child is a fantastic sleeper, you will still find yourself tiptoeing and walking up a few times to ensure they’re still breathing.

And that’s not all when it comes to ensuring their safety. Besides decorating the nursery and stocking those cute baby clothes, as a new parent, one of the essential tasks on your to-do list is babyproofing your home. Creating a safe environment for the little one to explore and grow in is crucial, but where to start?

What Items Do I Need to Baby Proof House?

As baby grows, protecting their safety will be your top assignment as you navigate parenthood. Having the essential baby home safety products can help create a safe space. Here’s a list of the top 10 must-have products every parent should have in their arsenal to babyproof their home and keep bub protected at all times.

Baby Monitors

Many parents feel anxious just thinking about leaving their newborn alone, and taking safety precautions like putting them in the crib doesn’t make it much more painless. Yet, once you’re alone with your baby (one parent goes back to work, or you’re a single parent), you must put them down eventually. You’re a human, too, that needs to eat, go to the bathroom and take a shower, and God knows those short naps sometimes aren’t enough for doing one of those things.

That’s why baby monitors are one of the baby home safety products you need right away when you come home from the hospital, from the beginning. And that’s why getting one before the baby comes is essential. But how do you choose the right one for your home?

Consider your needs: Which room will you use most often during the newborn stage? Is it the nursery, your bedroom, a designated baby area in the living room, or more than one room? Answering these questions will help you decide if you need to buy multiple cam units or only one.

Then, take time to install the monitor and get the catch of using it. Some options come with monitors and an app on your phone so you can watch your baby all the time. Many mums swear they found peace of mind with the brand Owlet which offers beyond a baby monitor but also a Smart Sock that uses light to measure a baby’s pulse rate and blood oxygen levels.

Baby Crib Rail

Most people worry about their children falling asleep at night or during naps from the baby cot. In actuality, picturing the infant dozing on the edge keeps many of us from a whole night’s sleep.

The baby crib fence is one of the infant safety equipment that will make being a parent joyful, so this shouldn’t be a concerning reason. Consider the baby’s weight while selecting the ideal crib for them to make sure it won’t give way.

Outlet Covers

Many things can pose a significant risk to curious babies on the move that explore their environment through touch and taste, including electrical sockets. When left unattended, babies can stick their fingers or objects into outlets, leading to electric shock, burns, and even death. Therefore, it’s crucial to take precautions to babyproof your home’s electrical outlets.

These covers come in many types, each designed to provide different levels of protection. Using outlet covers can help prevent electric shock, burns, and other electrical accidents. Additionally, outlet covers are easy to install and affordable, making them a convenient option for parents who want to ensure their baby’s safety.

Cabinet Locks

Cabinets can pose a significant danger to babies, who can effortlessly get their fingers caught in drawers or ingest harmful items, such as cleaning supplies or medications. Therefore, it’s crucial to take precautions to babyproof your home’s cabinets and drawers.

The most common lock types include magnetic, spring-loaded, and adhesive locks. Magnetic locks are discreet and easy to install but require a separate key to unlock. Spring-loaded locks are more affordable but demand more force to open. Adhesive locks are the easiest to install but may damage cabinets and drawers when removed.

Baby Gates

Baby gates are essential baby safety products that can help keep your baby out of harm’s way. If you’re thinking about where you can install a gate, think of stairways, doorways, and other areas that may be unsafe for your baby and that you need to block off. You’ll find pressure-mounted and hardware-mounted gates when searching for baby gates online. Pressure-mounted gates are easy to install but not as suitable for blocking stairways, while hardware-mounted gates require screws for installation but provide a more secure barrier.

Window Guards

Another significant risk to babies is windows, as they can easily fall out of open windows. Window guards can help prevent falls by keeping your baby from opening windows or falling out. Various types of window guards include adjustable and fixed options. Using baby safety window guards can help keep your bub safe from falls and provide peace of mind when your windows are open.

Edge and Corner Guards

Once your baby starts moving, whether crawling or learning to stand and walk, sharp edges and corners become hazardous, as they can easily bump into the furniture. Edge and corner guards can help protect your baby from bumps and bruises by covering sharp edges and corners on furnishings. Some options include foam and plastic edge and corner guards.

Oven Locks

Since the oven is one of the most used kitchen appliances, ensure you have safety locks on when baking your favourite cake to prevent the child from getting burned.

Children are naturally curious, and if they can recognise different food types, you are more likely to have them visit you in the kitchen. Ensure the lock is sturdy enough to keep the youngster away because you can be preoccupied and fail to notice them walking to the oven.

Toilet Locks

Toilets can pose a significant danger to babies, who can drown in just a few inches of water. Toilet locks can help prevent accidents by keeping your baby from opening the toilet lid. You can find different types of toilet locks, including adhesive straps that attach the top to the bowl and clamps that go around the base. You can remove most toilet locks easily for cleaning or when guests come over.

Secure Bathtub

When using a regular bathtub, bath time might be challenging for a parent. The child could slip off your arm. In actuality, bath time is the aspect of child care that new parents most dread.

Nevertheless, buying a specialised infant bathtub gear can simplify this. For the child, it’s not only cosy but also secure. Because some of them are inflatable, there is no need to be concerned about space.