Baby Proofing Your Living Room in Bellingham WA

1. Secure tall furniture to walls

Secure other big items, such as tvs. Use appliances from your local hardware store.

2. Run cords out of sight and out of reach.

Consider running a line behind the sofa using command hooks that are placed sparingly along the wall. Or, bundle up cords so they can’t get wrapped around baby’s neck. Use a zip tie to secure them. 

3. Regularly vacuum.

If you know babies, you know they love to put things in their mouth. They explore by sampling what they find on the ground. That means rocks that have fallen from the bottom of your shoe, change that dropped to the ground, the cap to some cream, and so on.

4. Keep flooring comfortable.

If you don’t already have carpet, consider rolling out a rug to cover the hardwood floor in your living room. As babies learn and grow, they have several tumbles. Having a soft floor allows for comfortable crawl space and comfortable landings. If you aren’t ready to invest in a rug, perhaps a small play mat could be more your style.

5. Keep the door locked.

Curious toddlers are not unlikely to try to open doors, which can lead to finger pinching or a quick walk down the street...alone. A door knob cover can be a good solution, but something more stylish may be a latch style lock.

6. Cover your fireplace.

A guard or gate around the fireplace keeps fire and hot coals in, and baby out. It can also make a great statement piece!

7. Keep drinks (especially hot ones) off the coffee table.

New crawlers or standers could pull a drink down onto themselves in one quick motion. A small bonk on the head is uncomfortable, but the bigger risk here is a burn from a hot drink. Until baby is older, keep drinks in the kitchen.

8. Tie up curtains.

Babies that are learning to move pull on whatever they can get their hands on. Pulling on a low curtain could result in tears to the fabric, or worse, the whole curtain could fall down harming baby.

9. Apply corner guards.

It may not be the most stylish, but it is the safest. Apply corner guards to the tables or furniture in your living room that have sharp corners.

10. Remove blinds with long or looped cords.

A baby can easily get tangled in cords like these which could quickly cause an emergency by cutting off their air supply. Consider installing shades in your home that cover windows in a stylish and simple way all while eliminating long cords.

11. Stabilize tall lamps.

Push tall lamps, if you insist on having them as part of your decor, behind your sofa or armchair. That way they are harder to get to.

12. Check your shelves.

Are your breakable items up high? Are age appropriate books and toys on the very bottom shelves? If baby pulled the items that are just above them, could the items fall and hurt baby? Arrange your shelves in a way that is appropriate for your little one.