9 home security tips for newborn parents

Becoming a parent is one of the most thrilling, rewarding and terrifying things anyone can do. You have the life of a baby human in your hands, after all, and that’s a massive responsibility that you shouldn’t take lightly.

You may have thought about all of the big stuff. You have to save for their education, move to a nice neighborhood, think about the values you’re going to instill in them. It can be difficult to remember that there are a lot of small things you need to do before you can get to all of that big stuff.

That’s right, you’re going to have to baby proof your home. It can be difficult in an extremely overwhelming time, but we’ve got your back. We’ve put together these tips to help you make sure your room is all ready for your new bundle of joy.

Prep the nursery.

The first thing you need to do is to get a good crib for your baby. Don’t buy a crib on looks alone, go for something that’s sturdy and dependable. It’s tempting to want to budget here, but buy quality. You don’t want to put your baby at risk with a crib that’s janky.

Similarly, check it every once in a while for safety’s sake. Make sure everything is tight and bolted. And remember, it’s best for your baby to sleep with nothing but a firm mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid things like pillows and toys. Babies tend to squirm so these can actually be hazards.

When you place your crib, keep it away from windows, shade cords and other pieces of furniture. 59% of nonfatal Emergency Department visits for babies under a year are from falls, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Get the bathroom ready.

One of the most important places in your home that you need to shore up is the bathroom. Drowning is more responsible for the deaths of children from ages 1 to 4 than any other condition, save for birth defects, according to the CDC.

That means you need to buy a proper bathtub for your newborn. A baby can drown in as little as an inch of water, so you’ll need to get something that’s safe for them. More importantly, don’t leave their side or rely on things like baby bath rings to ensure their safety. Get a good tub and keep and eye on them.

As they grow older, it’s important to watch them in the bathroom. Some babies tend to like to try to climb into the toilet. You may want to consider things like a toilet lid lock or keeping your bathroom door closed when you’re not using it to prevent possible accidents.

Baby proof the furniture.

Make sure your furniture is stable and reliable. You need to make sure they’re safe to use. It’s one thing if your chair breaks apart while you’re on it, it’s another thing if you’re on it with your child in your hands.

Make sure cords aren’t lying around, or that window curtain cords are placed up high. Get a baby mat to place on the floor to get them a spot to safely crawl or squirm around on. Don’t just put them on straight carpet or hardwood. You may also want to make sure your larger furniture items are safely anchored to your wall.

Also Read: 8 Things To Look For In A Nanny Cam

Check the kitchen.

As your child starts crawling around, you’re going to have to do some rearranging in the kitchen. Take all the hazardous items, like detergents and other cleaning products, and move them up high. Make sure your sharp objects are high up enough that they aren’t a potential danger, too.

You may also want to get protective knobs for your oven and stove, too, just in case they get their hands on anything while you’re carrying them. Babies can be extremely curious, and will touch or grasp whatever they can.

Don’t forget about the pets.

You’re going to need to slowly introduce your pets to your new baby. You don’t want them to get too excited and hurt your baby, and you don’t want them to get intimidated or resentful and attack the baby.

You can get baby safety gates to keep your pets away from your baby until they’re comfortable. The best gates are ones that screw into walls, rather than ones that use pressure-based systems that can become loose. Make sure you don’t have any pet food out in the open or easily accessible by your baby, too.

Don’t use a microwave for baby food.

Microwaves are wonderful devices that can make heating food a breeze, but you don’t want to use them for your baby’s formula or breast milk. Microwaves tend to heat too hot, which can burn your baby’s mouth. They can also heat unevenly, which means there’ll be some hot spots in the milk.

Instead, you’ll want to hold your baby bottle under warm tap water or place it in a bowl of warm water. You can test to see whether it’s too hot by putting a drop on your wrist before feeding.

Keep tabs on recalls.

You’re going to buy a lot of stuff for your new kid: toys, furniture, blankets, diapers and whole lot more. Every time you do this, do your best to register your product. This way, you’ll easily be notified if there’s a recall for anything. For instance, the plush toy you bought may have a recall because a piece could come off, creating a choking hazard.

You should also periodically check whether there were any recalls for the products you own. You can also go a step further and check on the toys and furniture yourself, making sure things are in top shape and aren’t a danger to your bundle of joy.

Get a security system.

Peace of mind is important as a parent. That’s why it can be beneficial to invest in a home security system. You’ll know that if anything happens, a siren will go off and the police will be at your door. Even better, look for security systems that have alarm sensors for water damage, which can help you prevent mold and mildew. If your home is secure, you’ll sleep well knowing your baby is safe and sound.

Get a smart cam for your baby.

Smart cameras aren’t only good for preventing package theft, they’re also good at keeping an eye on your baby. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you can quickly use your smartphone to check in and see how your baby is doing. That’s why getting a smart camera with night vision is important. Plus, you can have footage of your baby as they sleep, which can be important to check in case something is wrong with your baby.

You should definitely get a security camera that comes with night vision and two-way talk. That means you can quickly check in on your baby and talk to him or her if you need to. You can also save the footage either in the cloud or on device and show it to your doctor should your baby have trouble sleeping for whatever reason.

Also Read: Security Camera Field Of View