Thinking about baby proofing your kitchen isn’t at the top of your list when there’s so much going on when your expecting, but you need to start preparing all the rooms in your house for your future explorer.
I know the overwhelming feeling of having a baby in your life, especially if you are new to it. Babies are cute and adorable, but they also have the uncanny behavior of getting themselves into trouble. Thankfully, there are many ways that you can baby proof your home before you welcome your new baby.
The kitchen is one area you will want to pay close attention to. This is because kitchens are one of the most used rooms in every home and are notoriously dangerous due to the presence of sharp knives, hot stoves, and dangling cords.
Baby proofing this particular area is quite easy, so much so that your first attempt at it will be successful. The following are some of the ways you can baby-proof this area of your home.
? Baby Proofing Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
Table of Contents
Cabinet Lock – Magnetic
Baby proofing your cabinets is a great way to help keep harmful items out of your child’s reach. The easiest way to do this is by using magnetic cabinet locks. It consists of two parts: a baseplate mounted to the inside of the drawer or cabinet and a catch attached to the door. To use the lock, simply place the catch on the baseplate. The magnets will hold the two pieces together, preventing the door from being opened. When you want to access the contents of the drawer or cabinet, simply separate the catch from the baseplate.
Adhesive Locks
Another great way to prevent access to your cabinets and drawers is with adhesive locks. These locks are essentially stickers that you can attach to your cabinet’s doors to keep them closed. As they are removable, you can re-position these as need be, making them more versatile.
? How To Baby Proof Your Stovetop and Oven
The stove and oven are two highly dangerous appliances that you will want to be baby proof. To do this, consider using the following safety items.
Oven Lock
Using an oven lock is one of the best ways to keep your children safe. These mechanical locking devices are fitted to the oven door to prevent it from being opened when it’s running or self-cleaning.
Stove Guard
Stove guards are also incredibly useful for baby proofing your stove. This one is adjustable in length and is installed using adhesive. It is made from Polycarbonate Plastic which means it will self-extinguish if ever exposed to an open flame. They are an excellent way of preventing little wondering hands touching burners or hot pans.
Stove Knob Covers
Stove knob covers are a great way of restricting access to your stove knobs. These covers fit over the oven’s knobs and keep your children from turning it on. They consist of holes on the sides of the cover, which are the only way a user can get to control the actual knob. This somewhat complex task ensures that only adults can turn the oven on and off.
⭐️ Kitchen Reminder : Keep pots and pans or anything heavy or sharp from the edge of the counter top to prevent it from being pulled down and causing injury
Baby Proofing Table and Countertop Corners
In addition to cabinets, you will also want baby-proof your countertops and tables by using the following items.
Corner Protector
These are plastic covers fitted over the corners of your furniture that can help prevent children from getting bruised while playing around. As they are rounded in shape, they will minimize the risk of your children getting hurt.
Baby Proofing Your Refrigerator
Another important appliance that you need to baby-proof is your refrigerator. This is because refrigerators are filled with glass bottles and other objects that can cause injuries if they fall on your child. To prevent your children from accessing these objects, consider using appliance locks.
? Baby Proofing Electrical Outlets and Electrical Cords
Most of us take for granted the presence of electrical outlets in our kitchen. This luxury should not be taken for granted as electrical outlets and cords can pose a great danger to your young ones. To prevent this, consider using the following safety tips.
Always Use Outlet Covers
Outlet covers are an excellent way of keeping children away from electrical outlets, which can be very dangerous. Despite being small, these covers are very effective as they completely cover the sockets and thus eliminate the danger of electric shocks. They also come in a variety of designs and colors, so you can choose the one that best suits your home’s décor.
Locate All Loose Cords and Secure Them
Cords are very dangerous, especially when they are left dangling in areas where a baby can reach them. You will want to look around the kitchen and search for loose cords. Once you have located them, you will want to secure them so that your baby cannot tamper with them and get hurt in the process. One great way of doing this is to use cord locks.
Unplug Appliances and Stash Cords
Another way of baby proofing your kitchen is by making sure that all appliances are unplugged when not in use. These appliances include but are not limited to your microwave and electric kettle. If they are left plugged in, your child can easily turn them on, which can lead to an electric shock.
⭐️ Reminder – Have a first aid kit in your home to take care of any cuts, scratches or emergencies your little explorer might have.
Here are a few more Things to Keep In Mind
Store All Sharp Knives Out of Your Baby’s Reach
Babies are naturally curious and will always want to get into stuff they should not be touching. One of the most dangerous things in any home setup is knives. A knife can cause all sorts of injuries, including cuts and lacerations. If you have a knife block in your home, you will want to use it to keep all your knives in one place and lock it away from your child’s reach. You’ll also want to make sure that you keep any other sharp objects out of their reach.
Keep Your Kitchen Free of Smoke
Smoke is an irritant that can cause your baby to have a coughing fit. As such, you will want to make sure that there is no smoke or fumes in your kitchen when you are cooking. Ideally, you should make sure that your stove has a ventilation hood that sucks the air up and away from where the baby is playing. If not, you might consider using safer cooking methods, such as electric grills and slow cookers, instead of gas stoves.
Never Leave Your Child Unattended in the Kitchen
One of the most important safety tips you should always adhere to is never leaving your child unattended while playing. This is because they might come into contact with dangerous items that you have forgotten about or simply do not know about. Such items include cooking pots and utensils, which are easy to ignore but can present a danger to your baby.
Never Leave Items on the Counter Unattended
Babies love to play around with small objects, especially when they are easily accessible through countertops. While this does not pose a great danger to you as an adult, it can cause injuries if they fall on your child.
Take Necessary Precautions Against Plastic Bags
Plastic bags can present a danger to your infant as they can suffocate them. As such, you will want to ensure that they are not left around when they are empty since your baby can easily put them over his or her head.
Trash Can
Baby’s heads are very soft and, as such, can easily be injured if they come into contact with hard objects. As such, you will want to ensure that the edges of your trash bin are either rounded or covered. You can also improve the safety of your home by ensuring that the trash can is placed in the most inaccessible areas, such as behind doors, so your baby will not be able to reach it.
Doors
Children are very slow in responding to their environments and will often get their fingers pinched while closing doors. In order to prevent this, you will want to ensure that all doors in your home are babyproofed with either finger protection strips or door guards.
Keep All Cleaning Supplies Away from Children
Cleaning products such as soaps and detergents are harmful to your baby as they can cause irritation and allergic reactions. As such, you will want to ensure that these products are kept out of their reach at all times. You may even consider placing them on high shelves.
⭐️ Reminder : Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Also make sure your kitchen smoke detector is functioning properly and change the batteries if necessary.
Put Away All Unnecessary Items
Take a long hard look around your kitchen and eliminate items that serve no useful purpose. These items may include furniture you no longer use or spices that have long gone off. A cluttered kitchen will only jeopardize your child’s health and safety.
The Bottom Line
While the list of baby-proofing essentials is long, you will find that staying on top of these essentials can keep your baby safe. It’s also worth mentioning that there are no shortcuts to making your home safe from harm. This is because, like most other things in life, safety comes with a lot of hard work and commitment. However, if you are diligent, you will notice a significant improvement in your baby’s safety.