Hi everyone. First time mum really need some up to date advice/tips on baby proofing. My baby has started crawling and hes going everywhere! Banging his head here and there. I'm so nervous but feel bad just keeping him locked in his highchair etc while I get work done.
I was just reading about those socket covers and it says they are actually not that safe. So really confused.
Thanks
We put a baby gate up at the stairs and one to keep baby contained in the living room. She does get into the cupboards in the kitchen, but we are always with her and remove her and say no. She's slowly getting the idea that they're no go areas. We did have locks with the first but they all broke and were so frustrating, so we didn't replace them. Apart from that there no baby proofing going on, they seem to quite quickly work out their environment and so I take calculated risks. Made sure they don't have access to any real dangerous things like they can't pull anything over into themselves like drawers, can't fall down stairs, can't touch the cooker. Apart from that I've let them explore and learn from their bumps.
I wish my one would listen to the word no. He goes towards the radiator and puts his little fingers on there and realises oh thats hot. But he goes back for more🙄
I haven't got past thinking about the living room. Thanks for reminding me about the kitchen x
we bought some socket covers… I suppose they could pull them out (but they’re not that small) however we’ve wedged stuff in front of the two sockets in the living room that she’s got access to.
We’ve put some furniture in front of a sharp corner and I’ve taped the fire guard in a straight line to the wall. Nothing completely works and I’m constantly pulling her away from the unlocking nappy bin and finding things in her hand that shouldn’t be there… it’s the nature of the beast. If he’s happy in his high chair for a while that’s okay but ideally they need time to move and play. I don’t get much done in the day and leave the room for little amounts of time… we put a stair gate on the living room as it’s the only room with carpet. We put a play pen in the kitchen so I could do more stuff but she does get annoyed quite quickly so not much works.
In short there’s no way (or point) in baby proofing everything and they need to learn by bashing and bumping and it’s damage limitation
Play pen sounds like a good idea. I have an large kitchen that is constantly cold so can't really take him there till it gets abit warmer. So I feel sorry for and let him loose in the living room but I'm constantly peeping in to watch what he's up to 😁 I read that you should get on your own hands and knees and see what could be a potential hazard and I see alot so hopefully I can get them sorted quickly.
our play pen could be massive but isn’t and I think it frustrates her but you can go in and make it fun and leave again. Our kitchen is also colder but layer them up and they’ll be okay for 15-20 mins. I have to admit I don’t leave her in the living room for long on her own (she’ll start protesting anyway) but she’s always fine for a wee break, a check on washing off to get a cup of tea… and so far the only accidents have been when I’m actually in the room so 🤷🏻♀️
Awh. When accidents have happened do you feel really upset after that. Regardless of whether you were in the room or not. How do uou manage to contain your emotions when your baby gets hurt. I know they will get bumps and bangs here abd there. But I think I'm too sensitive
It’s part of them growing up. They need to bang themselves and learn. I’m not sensitive like that - it’s important to not make too much of it - I pick her up and give her a big hug and tell it’s it’s okay and then blow raspberries on her tummy to make her laugh. That’s if it’s a hard knock. If it’s just a shock we try and laugh about it and then she comes round either laughing or very quickly. Try and remember their bones are soft - everything heals more quickly so it’s not the same as a bang for you x
I need to be more like that. I think if you make a big deal then they become confused and concerned about what just happened. Like you said best to just comfort and distract them. Oh I didn't know that about their bones. I worry about head bangs causing severe damage
it would have to be a very big knock, not just a bump even into a corner of a table for instance. They’re not going at a speed really. We’ve had a few bumps that left a mark and I felt bad. I think the worst was one I didn’t see and think she knocked her eye and grazed the side. I felt guilty but it was gone by the next day and all the rest of the bumps have gone within an hour or two. Yes they have very soft bones and are built for knocks until they firm up much later. For instance she headbutts my chin which hurts me and she doesn’t even notice. Definitely better to not make a big deal xx
Awh bless her. Babies are very resilient aren't they. Thanks for the advice though I will be making some changes for sure x
Quick question please. I've got a chair in the living room. Now that looks like something that could fall on him. Where do you keep your highchair?
we have the highchair in the kitchen. Near our kitchen table, Our only carpeted floor is the living room - the play pen is in the kitchen. So she can only freely roam the living room
Thanks. I think its time I take him into yhe kitchen with me too x
It’s true that socket covers in the UK are unsafe for 2 reasons-1) UK sockets have a safety valve that does not allow current to flow unless something is pushed into it (eg a socket cover pin). A baby needs to push something long and metal into at least 2 holes in a socket to get the current going, they only need to work it into one alongside the socket cover pins; 2) socket covers are totally unregulated so they have not undergone any safety testing. If you have sockets you don’t use you’re better replacing with a blanking plate ie no holes at all. The only time a socket cover is the safer option is if you have quite a narrow multiway, as a plug could be pushed in upsidedown, activating it and making the remaining holes live. Better to replace the multiway in this scenario.
We have baby gates, some padding around our coffee table (the edges are vicious and he has hurt himself on it before), and some cupboard locks for ones where he can hurt himself with the contents. A few bookcases and chests of drawers are attached to the wall. We are going to wall mount our tv soon as it’s relatively large, flat, and not very high up.
Xx
Thanks. Yes that what I read about the socket covers. I think I will have to just block them off with furniture wherever I can.
What sort of padding have you got for your coffee table? Did you just make your own?
We bought some from Amazon but we found all of the foam edge protectors say not for use with children under 5 🙄😂. I think the issue is if they bite it-I put brown parcel tape over the foam and so far his teeth have not gone through it. He doesn’t try to bite it now anyway, it was just when learning to stand he sometimes ended up with his mouth around it. I was twitchy about it at first but decided it’s a calculated risk versus him properly hurting himself on the table edge. This is the one we got: amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08PTT...
Xx
Yes rather that then seriously injuring themselves on the edge of furniture.
Thanks you for linking them. Much appreciated x
we just covered the sharp corners of thing with the little clear corner protectors that stick on (after a trip to A&E from splitting head open in the garden 🙈 sharp edges are my main worry lol) we also have a lock on the cleaning cupboard radiator covers, a fire guard (we have an open coal fire and a sharp stone mantle that’s all covered off now) and stair gates at bottom and top of stairs. We do have the plastic socket goers on the ones near his play area he tried the sockets for maybe a few weeks at crawling/pulling up stage where we said no and has ignored ever since really. From age 8 months to walking independently we also had an extra large proper play pen (got second hand on marketplace for £40 including foam mats) and that also helped contain him to just his toys for spells at a time other than that you are always really with them so you can also just teach them as you go. There’s nothing ever 💯 baby proof my little one has hurt himself at nursery too and they are completely baby proof so there will be a few bumps and bruises along the way so it’s just really about securing the dangerous stuff away and softening some sharp edges for us. You are really in the fun stage now!! Enjoy lovely xx
Awh that sounds horrible I hope he's recovered bless him. I'll definitely be getting covers for those nasty corners.
Thanks for the other tips well definitely be considering some of them because I seriously can't control him. They other day he came and sat next to the door and I couldn't get back into the living room!
maliveo Premium Corner Protection and Edge Protection Transparent Plastic for Table and Furniture Corners - Bumper Protection for Babies and Children (Pack of 12, Round) amzn.eu/d/2mAH5XK
We just have those everywhere 😂
Yeah the shutting the door on and sitting behind it trick is the worst! 🙈🤣 ours is running about like a mad man now and has managed to work out how to lock himself in the bathroom so I’m not going to pretend it gets easier…. Just different 😂 xx
Oh thankyou for the link. Will get some asap.
Oh you're joking. How on earth do you deal with that situation.
Thanks for the heads up I never knew kids could be such explorer's till mines started crawling. I don't know whats going to happen when he starts walking 🥺
luckily we have a bathroom door lock that you can open from the outside too 😂 but more generally just now there’s a lot of ‘negotiating’ with a toddler 🤪 xx
Phew. He probably feels so excited when he locks the door but then you open it 🤣
My stress levels have gone up just thinking about the sentence negotiating with a toddler 😬
excited about anything he knows he’s not meant to be doing 🤣 sounds like you have quite the explorer on your hands 🤗 xx
Awh bless he sounds like a sweet boy though.
Yep I wasn't ready for this stage. He's caught me by surprise. 1 week ago he was shuffling backwards only and not going far. But then I got down and showed him how to crawl and thats it he's off on his adventures. I was not mentally ready for this. So needed the tips from you all.
Our only concern as parents is their safety isn't it. We don't mind them having fun but it just needs to be safe.
what a clever cookie 👏🏻 yeah my heart is in my mouth just about every moment he’s awake but sometimes they do learn the hard way these boys! 😂
Yep for sure. I've never had a baby boy in my close family only girls and they were all very civilised. I dint know why I thought that about boys 😆
I'm guessing after the head incident you're on edge when he's on the move poor you.
I have 2 friends that have boys the same age, there’s only weeks between them, and they are all wild! The girls at the toddlers club just look at them like ‘why are you like this?’ 🤣 I looked it up and I think boys just explore the world differently to girls at certain stages. Like if I say to my wee one ‘watch your head’ if he’s close to hitting it on something he walks up to it and hits his head off it and laughs 🤷🏻♀️🤣 like he wants to check it out anyways 🙈 he is also a sensitive wee soul though and does sit and watch and learn a lot too and reads lots of books! So I’m not sure how much I believe that theory 🤔
That’s so cute he’s the only boy in the family I bet he gets spoiled rotten and doted on 🤗 💙 xx
you can get folding socket covers that have little doors that need two hands to get open, and if the plug isn’t too chunky the door closes over it so the cable pops out the bottom. I think the big one is furniture straps to the wall to prevent topples … good luck! X
Ah never heard of them they sound like a solution for me thanks. I'm going to need a handyman to do that for me 🤔
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