If you are about to be the parent of a newborn child, then congratulations! There’s no better feeling in the world than taking care of and raising a child. However, newborn babies are incredibly at risk to the environment around them. As a parent, it is your duty to protect them from those risks; you will need to baby proof your home before getting back from the hospital. This includes placing antimicrobial treated floor mats at every entrance stopping toxins, pesticides and bacteria in its tracks, to dust mite covers on the mattress and gates at the steps. Follow these tips to help baby proof your home and prepare the baby’s room.
The Nursery
- Avoid putting pillows and bedding in the crib as the baby could suffocate in it.
- Make sure the slats in the crib are no more than 2 and 3/8” apart to keep the baby from getting its head stuck between them. (The width of a soda can).
- Have a safety strap on your changing table, and make sure it has guardrails on all sides.
- Do not put the crib near window blinds or shades, as the baby can get entangled in the blind cords.
- Up to 95% of house dust is tracked in on our shoes. Use antimicrobial treated floor mats to reduce your babies exposure to harmful pollutants, allergens, microorganisms (bacteria, mold, fungus) and toxins in the nursery.
The Living Room
- Make sure all electrical cords are out of reach of children, and not hanging down.
- Place safety plug covers in all the electrical outlets that aren’t being used.
- Always make sure the floor is clear of small things such as coins or buttons, which are all choking hazards.
- Use antimicrobial treated floor mats to reduce your babies and families exposure to harmful pollutants, allergens, microorganisms (bacteria, mold, fungus) and toxins.
- Keep furniture with sharp edges away from the center of the room, and from areas that your baby may crawl or walk through.
The Bathroom
- Your child should never be left unattended in the bathroom.
- Make sure you have no-slip strips installed on the bottom of the bathtub
- Have lid locks installed onto the toilet to keep the baby from hurting him or herself on the lid.
- Make sure all medicine is stored in a locked medicine cabinet
- Keep all electrical appliances unplugged and stored away when not in use.
- Set your hot water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the baby from accidentally scalding him or herself with hot faucet water.
- Always flush the toilet with the lid down to prevent the circulation of bacteria from toilet water.
The Kitchen
- Place an antimicrobial treated doormat at your kitchen sink to reduce and control bacteria and debris from being tracked through the kitchen.
- Store all cleaning products in cabinets that the baby cannot reach. Never leave any of these out after use.
- When heating milk, refrain from using the microwave. Microwaves to a poor job of evenly heating liquid, which leads to unreliable temperature testing, and it could cause your baby to scald its mouth.
- Put stops in your drawers to keep the baby from pulling them out.
- Put a latch on the drawer containing all the sharp instruments.
Use these tips to help baby proof your home for your newborn child, so that you can concentrate more on creating memories and enjoying the experience.
