If you have a baby on the way, you’ve got a million things on your mind. In case it’s your first child, you may be feeling even more overwhelmed with the ever-growing checklist of things to prepare with regard to the big birthday.

You know as soon as that day arrives, all eyes will be on the baby. So you may be wondering, is it even necessary to baby-proof my home?

The answer is yes.

Each year, 3. 5 million children end up in the emergency room from injuries sustained at home. ¹ We know you’ll have a careful watchful eye on your baby, but there your house may have some hidden dangers and toxins you haven’t even thought about. So let’s look in some eco-friendly ways to baby-proof your home.

one. Fix What Needs Fixing

When only adults or older children are living in the house, it can become easy to put off big projects. You’ve learned how to ignore that crack in your glass door and the particular broken window seal .

Not anymore.

Now that you have a baby on the way, you need in order to make sure your home is as safe and comfortable as possible. Here are some things you’ll want to check.

• Walls: Do they have lead-based paint? When so, you will need to contact the professional lead paint removal company.
• Electrical: Any broken or even exposed wiring? You’ll want to get that taken care of, especially if it’s in reach of small hands. Use outlet plug covers that cannot be removed easily.
• Windows: Replace windows and glass doors that are broken or can end up being easily opened. Also inspect blinds and window coverings for loose or dangling cords plus secure them properly.
• HVAC: Upgrade any broken or outdated HVAC systems to ensure good air quality, adequate ventilation and proper temperature for your baby. If you’ve never had an energy audit , consider getting one to make your home more comfy.
• Water heater: Fix the leaking water heater and make sure it’s set below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will not just avoid giving your baby a sizzling bath, but help keep all of them safe from burning themselves when they get old enough in order to start turning knobs.
• Detectors: Check and (if necessary) update smoke plus carbon monoxide detectors.

2. Make a Room-By-Room List

It might be easiest to walk room by room and address areas that need some sustainable baby-proofing.

Kitchen

You don’t have to lock up every kitchen cabinet. After all, isn’t making the drum kit out of pots, pans plus a wooden spoon a childhood rite of passage?

However , there are things that a person should secure or keep well out of reach of your own baby. Right here are the few methods to increase your kitchen safety:

• Put child-proof latches on cabinets and drawers that may include cleaning products, alcoholic beverages, sharp kitchen utensils or glassware.
• Keep plastic bags and aluminum foil placed safely out of the way.
• Place stove top burner addresses around the knobs to prevent your own baby through accidentally switching on the oven.
• Place non-slip pads under kitchen rugs in order to prevent slips.

Bathroom

Like the particular kitchen, there are many items within your bathroom that can quickly become hazardous in tiny hands. The particular best method to baby-proof your bathroom is to:

• Put cabinet latches to medicine and cleaning product cupboards.  
• Add a lock to your toilet cover and create sure to keep it closed.
• Keep a thermometer upon hand in order to measure the bath heat. Aim for the temperature around 100 levels Fahrenheit.
• Keep cosmetics, mouthwash and soaps out of reach.
• Lock razors, scissors, tweezers plus any other sharp objects in a latched cabinet.

Bedroom or even Nursery

When you picture a bedroom, you think about the soft bed covered in plush pillows. Exactly what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, several things, if you’re not careful. Here are some tips regarding baby-proofing the particular nursery and bedroom.

The Crib

• Keep your baby’s crib free of heavy blankets, pillows or stuffed animals that will increase the risk associated with suffocation.
• Choose a sustainably-sourced crib that’s certified safe with the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association label plus has slats no more than 2 ⅜ inches apart.
• Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall list before purchasing a crib.
• The crib mattress should be firm and fit snugly. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than two fingers in between the particular mattress and the crib.
• Select certified organic cotton sheets.
• Keep the crib away from home windows, heaters, lamps, wires or wall decorations that could fall into the particular crib (even stick-on decals).

Toys plus Furniture

• Choose age-appropriate toys and decor free of small objects, harmful toxins and plastics.
• Don’t install anything hanging low over the crib or changing table that can fall or even be pulled down.
• If you have a toy box intended for storage, make sure it has soft-close hinges and hinge guards to avoid injury.

Laundry Room

Another unsafe place for babies can be the laundry room (or laundry closet, for those of us who don’t have the luxury of a dedicated washing room). In the event that laundry detergent pods were enticing enough for teenagers to eat, imagine how attractive they’ll seem to a baby.

Here are usually a few ways to baby-proof your laundry washing area:

• Put the child lock or a sock on the laundry room doorway.
• Store washing products behind a locked cabinet or high placed safely out of the way.
• Use environmentally friendly laundry soap with non-toxic ingredients so that if your own child does get their hands on this, they won’t be from risk of ingesting dangerous chemicals.
• Anchor your washer and dryer and keep the particular doors locked.

Living Room

Aside from the nursery and bedroom, this will be probably where your baby is going to spend the most time. Make your residing room the safe space for your baby simply by doing the following:

• Make sure all hard edges and corners are covered by smooth materials. (Check out the DIY ideas below to get how to do this by upcycling points you have got at home .
• Make sure almost all electrical cables are bundled. Use electrical cord sleeves or make your own using tube socks or even a scarf.
• Switch in order to cordless windows blinds or tie upward your cords so they’re out of reach.

3. DIY Baby-Proofing Ideas

There are plenty of baby-proofing items upon the market, but many are made from non-sustainable foam or even plastic and will likely get thrown aside once your own baby turns into a child.

To avoid unnecessary plastic use and waste, try making some DO-IT-YOURSELF baby-proofing items with things you already possess at home. Here are a few ideas:

• Tie rubber bands close to the cabinet and drawer handles to keep them shut.
• Use socks around burners and doorknobs.
• Cut a tennis ball to match over razor-sharp counter corners.
• Use a pool noodle or fabric to soften table and counter edges.  
• Use a tube sock because a cable sleeve.
• DIY an store cover using Tupperware (see photo below).

four. Make Sustainable Purchases For Your Child 

Switching to non-toxic home goods is not only an environmentally-conscious choice, but safer for the particular well-being associated with your child and family.

Hundreds of thousands of children are sent to the hospital each year for accidental injuries related in order to household cleaning products. ^two You can also make safe and sound cleaning concoctions using non-chlorine bleach, vinegar and baking soda.

Fortunately, as sustainability has become a lot more mainstream, presently there are furthermore several companies that you may trust pertaining to organic plus ethically-sourced items. Here are some associated with our favorites:

The particular Honest Company

The Honest Company makes a variety of multi-products and minimal waste products that are toxin-free. You can find household cleaners, infant diapers, wipes and cleansers for the particular whole family members.

Modern Nursery

Still decorating and baby-proofing the baby room? Check out the eco-friendly line through Modern Nursery. The company has designed organic baby gear free of toxic chemicals and pesticides. You can find anything you need for your baby, from eco-friendly furniture and bedding to high chairs, strollers and car seats.

All of the products featured on their page are made by companies that do their part to reduce waste materials, use reclaimed materials plus safe, green products.

Bella Tunno

Bella Tunno is a women-owned, certified B-Corp that makes safe playthings, teething gear, plateware and more for your own baby. All of its products are 100% compliant using the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). As an added bonus, you can feel great about supporting Bella Tunno because meant for every product sold, the company donates 1 meal to a child within need.

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