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How To Baby Proof Your Home

Being a good parent takes some thought, work, and study. Here are some tips to get you started

By | Karen Anthony

Every hug, every kiss, every meal, every game, every snack, every time you play with them, it is helping build your baby’s brain.

Here  are some tips that will give your child the best start possible in life.

 1. Childproof Home Checklist

Keeping your child safe requires diligence, and a system.  Use this checklist as a starting point: 

□ Install cabinet, door, and appliance locks

□ Keep foil and plastic bags out of reach

□ Lock your medications, multivitamins, and supplements away

□ Avoid eating with breakable cutlery and dishes

□ Be on the lookout for dangling cords

□ Carpeting is a good option to cushion the inevitable falls and blows

□ Protect or cover sharp corners and edges

□ Take out any dangling cords from the TV/stereo

□ Cover the doorknob and electrical outlets

□ Window locks should be installed

□ Keep the lid on the toilet down

□ Take out the toilet bowl cleaner from around the toilet

□ Your water heater should be kept at 115 degrees of less

□ Make sure you have a non-slip mat for your bath

□ Make sure to inspect the screws at the base of your toilet

□ Keep toothpaste and soap out of reach

□ Buy a baby monitor

□ Be cautious with second-hand cribs

□ A pillow is not necessary for your baby.

□ Decorate the crib’s walls sparingly

□ Gliding is better than rocking chairs.

□ Install a baby gate on your staircase

□ Show your child how to safely climb stairs

□ You should have a handrail

□ Make sure the stairs are well lit

□ Keep the stairway doors shut

□ Lock your guns away

□ When not in use, keep pools and tubs covered

 2. Life-saving Gadgets For New Parents

 You need a baby monitor for sure.  You may be able to kill two birds with one stone so to speak, by purchasing an Amazon Alexa smart home device.  

Adding smart products to your home can help simplify your life before the baby. Many smart home appliances can improve efficiency both personal efficiency and home efficiency which can lower your monthly NYSEG bill.

Google Nest, the world’s most popular smart thermostat, has teamed up with more than 50 electricity providers in the United States, Canada, and other countries to offer products, services, plans, and rates to customers. Nest Hub allows customers to control smart home appliances like lights and thermostats from one interface.  New York State Electric & Gas Corporation and other New York utilities have a partnership program with Google Nest which allows customers to use voice commands for their thermostats to be controlled using smart speakers. 

 3. Parenting Guide  

Toddlers can find it difficult to cope with everyday life. Young children are often eager to be independent but they can’t always express their needs or move as quickly as they would like. Children also have difficulty coping with compromise, limits, and disappointment. This can lead them to misbehaving and tantrums.

Your affection should outweigh any punishments or consequences. Your child will be reassured by your affection through hugs, kisses, and playful roughhousing. Your toddler may also be motivated by praise and attention.

Give your baby ways to see, hear and move. Your baby should be able to see her arms and legs moving in different ways. Slowly, your baby will begin to learn how she can control her movements.

See your baby smile at you.

Talk softly and in ‘baby talk’ to your baby. The newborn should be contacted by both the mother and father. Soon, you will see that your newborn can hear and will begin to copy and memorize your words.

Change the pitch of your voice. Slower/quicker, slower/lower or quieter/louder. Be attentive to your baby’s reactions and how he interacts with you.

Lay your baby on her stomach and shake the bell or rattle in front of you. Encourage her to raise her head and shoulders and watch the rattle move. This will help your baby to follow the rattle using her eyes. You can also practice lifting her head.

Carefully stroke, soothe and hold your baby. Your baby will be happy being held and cuddled.

Make skin-to-skin contact. Your baby should feel safe and secure when you are around them.

 Set an example   

Children learn from their parents how to behave. Your child will learn how to behave best if you set positive examples for them.

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