New Construction Upgrades That Add Value: A Guide to Personalizing Your New Home
Posted by Dan O'Malley in Home Design
If you have a baby on the way or your little one has started crawling and moving around, you want to make sure they avoid any harm. You might be surprised at how many things a baby can get into at that age!
Here is a checklist of things to babyproof throughout your home, from your lower cabinets to wall outlets and everything in between.
How to Babyproof Your Home
Joyce Slaton of BabyCenter advises, “The best time to babyproof your home is before they begin moving around the house.”
Make this a fun weekend activity with a few friends and/or family to get your house ready for your new addition! You’ll get through the checklist in no time.
Consider the places throughout your home that have hazardous concerns, such as sharp edges, heavy items, cabinets, storage, and liquids. Even designated kids' areas need to be babyproofed.
Here’s our roundup of affordable items to baby- and toddler-proof these areas throughout your whole home.
Install Cabinet and Drawer Locks
Safeguarding your pullout drawers and low-to-the-ground cabinets is a crucial step, since little hands love to pull and explore. You can find magnetized, adhesive, or other options, depending on your preferences.
Get reliable cabinet and drawer locks.
Fasten Doorknobs
As kiddos get on their feet, they can reach for all kinds of new things, including doors. This can be especially dangerous if there are off-limit items behind that door, so make sure you secure any closed-off areas for good.
Get highly reviewed doorknob covers.
Secure Toilets With Locks
Adjustable, removable, and easy to install, toilet locks firmly latch around your toilet seat (as well as other items like washing machines) to prevent babies from getting into the water or getting their fingers caught under a closing lid.
Cushion All Sharp Corners
This item can be applied to so many areas of your home, from cabinet edges to furniture corners and so many other pieces. You can find great choices with non-toxic materials and surface-safe adhesives.
Get tried and true corner guards.
Cover Each Outlet
Fingers + electricity do not go together! These covers are must-haves throughout your house in order to protect your child from a dangerous accident during his or her crawling stage. You can find many materials and colors to blend in.
Get recommended outlet covers.
Section Off Your Fireplace With a Gate
If your home has a fireplace, this is one of the most important babyproof items to purchase. Even when your fireplace is not in use, surfaces can still be hot to the touch and messy debris can be dragged onto carpets or furniture, so make sure to add this one to your list.
Get mommy-tested fireplace gate options.
Looking for additional recommendations? Find even more babyproofing gadgets and supplies.
It might seem like a lot of extra work to get your home ready for your baby, but you will feel better knowing you have created a safe environment.
Author
Dan O'Malley
Author
Dan O’Malley is the Vice President of Product Development for M/I Homes.With over 30 years of expertise in residential architecture and design, Dan has been overseeing the product needs of the company's 16 divisions located throughout the Midwest, Southeast, Nashville and Texas for the past 12 years. Before joining M/I Homes, he was a partner in the Chicago office of BSB Design, a national residential architectural firm, for 14 years. Dan is an expert in all aspects of single-family and multifamily design and has received several awards for his successful projects. He is also a popular speaker at various industry events, including the International Builder’s Show, Midwest Builder’s Show, and Multi-Housing World.
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Author
Dan O'Malley
Author
Dan O’Malley is the Vice President of Product Development for M/I Homes.With over 30 years of expertise in residential architecture and design, Dan has been overseeing the product needs of the company's 16 divisions located throughout the Midwest, Southeast, Nashville and Texas for the past 12 years. Before joining M/I Homes, he was a partner in the Chicago office of BSB Design, a national residential architectural firm, for 14 years. Dan is an expert in all aspects of single-family and multifamily design and has received several awards for his successful projects. He is also a popular speaker at various industry events, including the International Builder’s Show, Midwest Builder’s Show, and Multi-Housing World.