Childproofing Advice---required Items and Optional Items?

I also had a rectangular wooden coffee table with sharp corners and did use the padding for both my kids. When the youngest was 3 I finally took it off and that next week she ran into it and cut the bridge of her nose. Looked bad but fortunately didn't need stitiches. I also used the gates at top and bottom of stairs and outlet covers and stove knob covers. I still use door knob covers so they can't get out of the house or let anyone in. I never had a problem with them playing in the toilet but I know other people have had to use the toilet latches. Good luck.

I have a 17 month explorer running all over the house and here is what we've had done. I'm sooo glad we did what we did.

1) Gates for stairs or anyplace in house we didn't want him in.
2) electrical outlets (he wants to play with them all the time) You could do either the plastic covers or outlets that close once you pull the cord out.
3) any cabinets you don't want her in (my son loves to open them and take things out and put things in)
4) fireplace: we had plexy glass velcroed over it. I thought that was a great idea! So if we want to use it, we just pull the plexy off and voila!
5) coffee table: I simply took it out of my livingroom. Until he's old enough, I'll put it back. Those guards didn't seem sturdy enough to actually stay on.
6) locks on doors that are above on top of the door. My son knows how to open doors now so I'm glad I can lock them.

7) We did one toilet lock. Not sure if that was nessecary. He never goes in there. But every child is different.
8) Ladder escape. Not sure if that was a waste or not. But I feel better knowing I have it.
9) Had 2 dressers locked into wall. (Not sure if that was necessary either. It'll depend on whether he'll try to climb it later).
10) Oven/stove (My son constantly wants to play with the door or handles. I didn't proof any part of that since I never even want him near it).

11) All my cleaning supplies are in one locked closet where he can't get into.

Good luck and it's good you're thinking about this before your little one moves too much!

We used (and still do)tha cabinet latches...we have the magnetic locks on the cabinets with liquor and cleaning supplies. I als used the outlet plugs that you can't just pull out, you have to kinda squeeze the side button to while pulling them. I also used the tether straps to bolt furniture to the wall (luckly my guy wasn't a climber, but now that hes 3.5, he does try sometimes to reach things, and they have held to the wall. something that I like that wasn't a necessity, but saved some pinched fingers, is a plastic thing that goes on top of bifold doors (closet) and slides over the middle crack so that the kids can not open the closet. That was good b/c 1)they couldnt get into closets alone, and 2) it keeps fingers from getting caught. they have a little stick attached that just slides back and forth over the top of the door to open close. We used the doorknob protector things on the basement door and the bathroom doors (kept the doors closed) vs. a tolilet thing. WE taught him not to play in the bathroom, and took the doorknob protectors off after he was potty trained. Also, the basic things gates, etc. I think some of the stuff is too much...like PP said...what if they are at someone elses house? You need to teach them basic safety and what to be safe around.

Two services - wow! You will have a very safe house.

I agree with what you've prioritized.

Only other things I can think of:

Corded blinds - get rid of them, especially for windows in the baby's room. Even "safety" blinds aren't that safe. If you can pull on the cord (even from the center of the blinds) and get a loop around your hand, so can the baby.

I would either use corner guards on the sharp edges or move the pointy table to the basement for the first few walking months. Also, I personally don't trust door locks alone (or at least not the ones we had) when it comes to cleansers and I keep those in the highest available cupboard, not under the sink. Same with meds - don't keep them in the medicine cabinet because a fairly young kid can climb from the toilet lid, to vanity, to open the cabinet.

I think you just have to watch your child (for what their tendencies are when they explore, I mean) and use your imagination. Most of what we did didn't cost much or anything - we moved things out of the way a lot, replaced some blinds with shades and curtains, put in cupboard locks, made sure cords weren't in tempting places, tethered all bookcases and dressers. Oh, and kitchen safety in general - our knobs are top-mounted, and we are lucky enough to have a lockable half-door on the kitchen, so we kept the kids out of the kitchen when they were playing in the rest of the house.

To be honest I really didn't use much at all but taught my son to not touch and stay away from certain things. Things I used: A gate in the kitchen so I could cook with out children under foot, electrical outlet plugs, and stabilized shelves and free standing cabinets. I did buy the safety latches for the cabinets and under the sink but I never put them in and don't even know where they are.

As for the coffee table if you make your house so super safe how is he going to act in someone else's house? I just taught him to be careful around certain furniture and not to touch things he wasn't supposed to touch. I also babysat many kids of different ages for family and friends and never had a problem. I did have to watch them well and keep them safe so if your in a sitaution where they need to be unsupervised for long amounts of time then I would still go ahead and do as many of the safety features as financially possible.

Electric outlet covers are a must, as are gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Also a must are cabinet latches on any cabinets that hold glass or cleaning supplies (poisons). Beyond that, it's really kinda trial and error. A lot depends on the kid, and a lot depends on your situation. Since you are home, you can be a lot more observant as to what they get into. I feel the best approach (with breakables, table corners etc.) is to leave them be and train the child not to touch. That way, they will know what is off limits at other peoples houses. Same goes for table corners...one or two bumps on the head, and they will learn to steer clear. If you pad everything, then they will assume things are safe at the homes of others and not be careful. Another thought on that is general behavior. I have friends that let their children jump on their sofa and stand on the back of it like it's a trampoline. Well, you guessed it...when they come to our house, they think they can do the same thing! NOT!! It's a real pain to deal with! Just some thoughts...best wishes to you!

Just trying to touch on what i know from when daughter was crawling...You are supposed to get down on the floor and look at things from there level to see what is reachable.... #1 for me hands down is covers on my steve knobs...Gas is not to be played with and since they can turn them on easily i have used them for 2 years now! # 2 is drawer latches for kitchen utinsels that can be harmful. Door knob covers were a big one for us as well as door stoppers on certain doors for fingers!
Good luck

this is so weird that this question arised, yesterday I came home from work and my son (while his dad was there) tried to climb up a very light corner shelf that we had, I had some glass knick-nacks, and of course the shelf along with all the items on it tumbled down and shattered into many glass pieces, luckly enough no one got hurt, not even a small cut, so with that I would suggest any kind of shelf reqardless of the weight be secured to the wall, that is our plan for the weekend. We tried to put the guards on the coffee table, he ripped them right off, not really worth it, we also have a rectangular wood coffee table, that he has learned that it hurts. outlet covers a must, we didn't do tolit lock because we keep those doors shut, when the time comes and he can open the doors, we will probally get the door things, also cabinet locks we just installed them, they work great. Good Luck.

My son is 10 months old and he is crawling and standing up. I have a sliding glass door in the kitchen. He stands up against the glass often. Now with summer here I have the door open and just the screen closed. He pulled himself up and his weight pushed the screen out and he fell out the door. Not far and did not hurt himself but none the less scared the **** out of me. Electrical outlet covers are a must. They are hard to take out when you want to vacuum but the little crawl right to them. It is amazing the things little one find. Just when you think you have thought of everything they find something to get in trouble with.
enjoy

I have three boys--one is almost 18 so I'm not going to include him in this comment. But take your daughter's personality into account. And how vigilant you tend to be. Be realistic. The fireplace guard didn't work for us because the boys would rip it off. And they would hit each other with the pieces. We finally put their train table in front of the fireplace--case closed. We have latches on our kitchen and bathroom cabinets. The medicine has been moved into a plastic box and is in our bedroom closet. We have a gate that blocks off the kitchen. A huge godsend is those plastic door knob covers. We also have outlets where you have to push the plug in sideways to get it in. I've heard of kids taking the caps out of the outlets. I guess watching them is the best defense, but everyone has to go to the bathroom from time to time. Good luck.

I agree with the items you found to be necessary. I also believe that it depends on the house set-up, the situation of who is supervising the child and when, etc. With my 2 under 2, I just felt more comfortable getting a few other items such as toilet seat locks and locks for cabinets (bathrooms and kitchen). I wanted the kids to be able to wander as much as possible and although I was always there, it only takes a split second for them to get into something.

We also added a few high locks to basement doors, outside doors, etc. since once they are walking it won't take long to learn how to turn keys, door knobs and get into more trouble.

Finally, we had a glass, square coffee table and did use a bumper guard on it. Kids will fall so something as inexpensive and easy to put on was definitely worth it.

Good luck!

We took our coffee table out of the room until our little guy is more stable. The other things I can think of are drapery -- but you can just put them up somewhere, blind cords, and other electronic cords.

We literally got down on hands and knees and followed our son around to see what we missed after we baby proofed, baby proofed again, and again. I think it's an ongoing process.

with each of my kids I needed to do different things gates and oultet covers are a must. door knob covers and potty locks just depend on the kid. i would look at the corners of your tables if they are rounded i wouldn't worry if they are more squared i would. Just look at how your kids use things and baby proof what you need too.