Babies! Babies everywhere! Babies in the kitchen, babies in the foyer, babies in the bathroom- new parent houses are crawling with babies. When you have young ones, it seems as though these little bundles of joy disappear and reappear in the most random places. We've found them in hampers. We've found them between couch cushions. The possibilities are endless. The reality is, we have to get things done around the home. We have to get things done while our partners, whether they work outside of the home or not, get their obligations down as well. Sometimes the baby wanders off. We know where they are, we just want to know exactly where. But rest assured, if you have a baby-proof home you have nothing to worry about. If you don't here are the things that every house with infants and toddlers should have to make sure they're safe.
First Aid
The first thing you need is a first aid kit and basic medical equipment. Yes, as a parent you should know basic first aid and emergency response. It's a weekend course at your local fire department. It's not hard to get certified and it can save your child's life. You don't need a fancy first aid kit. Yes, the impulse to get a designer on your kid is strong. But it's not necessary. The addition of thermometers is another important tool. If your child is feeling under the weather, it's a good idea to have something that can take their temp without any sort of invasive moves. Mothers from yester-year remember attempting to get their kid's temperature the old fashioned way with a mercury stick. Not fun. So as long as you have the basics, they should be fine.
Door Knob Covers
Door Knob covers are a lifesaver. They're the most amazing invention since the child-proof medicine cap. A good set of door knob covers can keep your precocious toddler from opening doors to the garage, the water heater, the outside world-any place you don't want them while you're balancing your checkbook. They're even approved by the National Safety Council. Not like their approval is needed for such a no-brained product, but they approved it for a reason. This falls under the same category as modified electrical sockets. The safety ones that keep the sockets closed are, once again, approved by the National Safety Council. Common sense.
Secure Heavy Objects
Secure heavy objects and drawers. There was a string of horror stories in the 1990s about cabinets and televisions falling on babies. We all know the horror stories from family get-togethers and book club circles. That still rings true today. Securing things like vanities, cabinets, and televisions to the wall keep accidents away. You might have a little Alex Honnold at home, looking to free climb the closest IKEA set.
These safety precautions may seem like a bit much to the average individual, but not to parents. New parents know the value of safety in the home. Yes, we're all busy living our lives. None of us want to sacrifice the time away from our kids to do everyday menial things. But we have to. We still have to juggle life. At least with these safety items, we can rest assured that our babies are safe.
