Baby-proofing advice needed

[aaiya]

Originally Posted by MarchMama2010 I found that it was easiest to focus most of our baby-proofing energy on one room where I could plop my kid(s) when I needed to get something done. Remove everything sharp, anything that could tip over, anything breakable, etc. Neither of my kids showed any interest in electrical outlets until we stuffed those safety plugs in them, and then they were suddenly the coolest. thing. ever. The outlet plates that have the covers that you shave to slide over before you can plug something in worked much better for us. But yes, you definitely need to do *some* baby-proofing because it's nearly impossible to stay sane if you have to keep your eyes directly on your kid 24/7.

I agree entirely. I HATE those little outlet plugs (always seemed like a choking hazard to me if you forget to put them back in after vacuuming or something). But then again, we only have a handful of exposed outlets...and my two kids haven't been terribly interested in them. I did get some of the slide covers (like these http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...mSource=Search) for the few outlets that seem to draw their attention. Honestly, I'm not too worried about them trying to plug things in to outlets (an important skill, I think) and I just make sure I don't leave bobby pins or random pieces of wire or metal utensils laying on the floor where an experimental baby could pick them up and go sticking them into holes.

We actually used a giant piece of cardboard to make a gate between our living room and dining room (big archway that no reasonably priced gate could span). That way, I had one space that the kid could roam (mostly) free and I didn't have to baby-proof the whole house at once...pretty sure that would have sent me over the edge.

[apboyles]

I also recommend bolting the furniture to the walls. They are quicker than you think.
Plus, we also have a guard on the stove so no little hands can pull down boiling liquids on themselves. We knew a couple earlier this year and their two year old pulled boiling water down on herself. She was in the hospital and sick for a while but she's mostly fine now, just gets very blotchy in the face when she's angry so you can see where the burns where. Plus they can't ever let her get sunburned now because of it. Poor thin.

[Art mama]

With the first one I didn't do too much. Now with the second I plan on doing more. Baby gates to keep her confined to whichever room I'm in. Electrical outlets for sure and I screw everything to the wall....even if I don't think she could tip it. I'll figure out the rest as we go and I see what she gets in to!

[Nerissa]

Originally Posted by jam's mum I consider myself relatively laid-back about safety but we: - covered up the outlets (absolutely necessary for us, they held magnetic attraction for her) - put up a stair gate at the top of the stairs, and then added one at the bottom of the stairs when she wanted to climb them - bolted a big bookcase to the wall - cabinet lock for the under-the-sink cabinet - bathroom door closed (she hadn't realised there was water in the toilet before she started walking...) Even then she still finds ways to get into mischief.

This is pretty much what we do too. Along with

~lock on the drawer that held all the sharp knives.

[cdeweese]

We did nothing except plug outlets until I had my second child. I think that (sometimes) "baby proofing" can fool you into thinking your child doesn't need to be watched as closely. We don't lock cabinets (cleaner is in pantry), use door knob covers, strap furniture to walls, etc. We don't have the best behaved kids but they learned "No" when they were small. We also don't gate off our Christmas tree. We have a gate that keeps the kids out of the kitchen while I cook, but its open the rest of the time.