Did you know that there are babyproofing services—teams that come to analyze your home and babyproof all of the bits and pieces that could hurt your child? I was so tempted to hire them, but after looking into it, I realized that this wasn’t too difficult of a task (at least for us). I was actually able to complete it all in one afternoon! Here are some tips to help you get started:

Let your friends’ toddlers run loose and take note of everything that they want to touch, pull, and grab. This made it so much easier for me to know where to start babyproofing!
Start at baby’s eye level. Get down on the floor and look around—what’s within reach, what looks like a toy but isn’t?
Anchor everything that can tip. Dressers, bookshelves, and even tall plants. If it can fall, secure it to the wall. It’s peace of mind for both of you!
Cover all of your outlets that are within reach of children. Trust me—they’ll get curious at one point or another.
Soft edges = fewer ouchies. Use corner guards on coffee tables, TV stands, and low furniture. Your living room can still be beautiful and safe. :)
Install cabinet and drawer locks mindfully. Focus on lower kitchen and bathroom cabinets first—especially ones with cleaning products, knives, or medicines.

Pssst—By the way, if you’re looking for in-depth articles filled with clever and informed strategies for baby care and motherhood support, be sure to join my FTM Prep Kit community!

GET MY PREP KIT!

By joining the prep kit, you’ll unlock access to an ever-growing library of helpful articles, exclusive developmental charts, beautiful wallpapers, meditation downloads, and so much more. Now, back to my babyproofing tips:

Block off exterior doors and stairways. We used baby gates to do this, but you can use other mechanisms too. The exterior doors are especially important to keep out of reach for little ones who are eager to explore outside.
Rethink what’s decorative. That beautiful ceramic vase on the floor? Time to move it up high (or temporarily tuck it away) until their little hands grow a little wiser.
Secure cords and blinds. Loop and fasten window cords out of reach because they can pose real dangers. I hear of kids getting tangled up in them all the time.
Keep a “yes space.” Create one area that’s totally baby-safe, where your little one can freely explore and you can exhale just a bit. Ours is her play pen.
Trust your instincts. You know your baby better than anyone. If something feels unsafe or if you find yourself hovering around a certain spot often, that’s your cue to babyproof it.

I hope that helps! Here are the babyproofing products that we used: