https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:59:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1501091 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:39:21 +0000 matador84 1501091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Outlet covers and cabinet locks on chemicals and that's all. Doors stay shut to bathrooms/bedrooms since nothing's been done. He's supervised anywhere else he goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1501038 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:27:01 +0000 septca 1501038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did very little baby-proofing, but may add more as we go... We have an open downward-leading staircase right in the middle of our living room, so that got a very secure gate as soon as DD was rolling. We have outlet covers everywhere and locks on most of the bathroom and kitchen cabinets and drawers (the ones that aren't locked don't have anything hazardous in them - i.e., the drawer that holds our dishtowels isn't locked). We have an open shelving unit and an open wine rack in our living room - neither is baby-proofed, although there is nothing super breakable on the shelves DD can reach.</p> <p>Once she gets a bit taller, we will likely put "locks" on some of our door knobs and on our stove.</p> <p>Basically, I don't really believe in baby-proofing beyond what is a true hazard. I want DD to learn boundaries and what things she is not allowed to touch. Of course, this A LOT of work for me because it means I have to watch her every move and be really consistent in my instructions/warnings to her, but I think it has worked really well - DD (14 mo) absolutely understands her boundaries and the word "no." That doesn't mean she doesn't test me in some way every single day (example: she loves to pull all the towels out of the aforementioned unlocked drawer and will just look at me with her hand posied about the towels until I tell her "no"), but it does mean that we can take her to other people's houses and she is very good about listening.</p> <p>This plan could completely fall apart when she hits 2, I realize. But it's the way I was raised and my mom thinks it worked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1501027 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:24:16 +0000 Grace 1501027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're going as she gets interested in things. So far, it's mainly been cords and there doesn't seem to be an easy way to protect them. One thing I heard in the news that I'm filing away for when she's older is don't keep medication in your purse or diaper bag (even if they are in childproof bottles). I would never have thought of that. Kids love purses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500986 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:16:30 +0000 Cherrybee 1500986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Awesome!! E isn't crawling yet but she's definitely got the will now (I'd say she has had it for about a week) so the way must be close behind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500904 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:58:20 +0000 Elderberrygin 1500904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a fair amount because she's very independent and a climber and I like her to be able to explore freely without worrying. Plus its a rental and some things, like wiring, seem a bit sketchy.</p> <p>- wall socket covers<br /> - gate in front of kitchen (that way I didn't have to worry about cabinet locks)<br /> - fixed the blind cords<br /> - put a set of playard walls around the fireplace and put most of the dangerous stuff (fire pokers, wobbly bookcase that can't be secured) and things we didn't want her chewing on inside<br /> - cabinet locks on linen closets (not so much for safety, more because she'll throw all our sheets and towels all over the floor) and liquor cabinet<br /> - foam corners on coffee table (these aren't really necessary anymore, but when she was first learning to crawl she would go full tilt at the coffee table, and then howl, at least five or six times an hour. that got old really fast) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500703 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:23:13 +0000 petunia354 1500703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are baby proofing as we do, and luckily we live in a ranch so everything on one floor with the ability to lock the basement door. We only used outlet covers that were left by the previous owners and all tables and fireplaces have remained largely un-baby proofed. We just tell him NO and redirect when possible!! It helps that we are moving soon so it didn't really seem worth it to us to go crazy with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500554 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:45:06 +0000 bhbee 1500554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we did a ton because I work at home some and can't always watch her closely. we didn't really need it all as she is laid-back but it was nice to have it and I didn't want to be stressed out getting stuff done as it became a problem.</p> <p>we have a TON of cabinets, with different configurations, so we did several kinds of locks (including the magnetic ones for single doors). we did corner pads on two tables with sharp corners. we don't have stairs but put up gates to block her from our uncovered radiators - this came in handy because we had to get configurable gates and then made a larger space for each where we could just keep lots of things out of her reach (even whole parts of rooms). what else . . . I put some little clear hooks on the wall (the 3M command kind that will pull off later) to hang the blinds cords out of reach. we did outlet covers of course, including some of the kind where you can leave things plugged in inside the cover. I even have a power strip cover. I felt like I bought every babyproofing thing in existence.</p> <p>but we left our fireplace open and decided we would teach her not to touch it and that worked fine. we are moving soon and I doubt we will do much until/if we have another mobile baby, except for locking up dangerous cabinets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500544 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:41:53 +0000 Ms.SK 1500544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a gate at the top of the stairs, covered the outlets, secured the large TV in the living room, locked the bottom cabinets and drawers in the kitchen (more because I was getting sick of them taking things out and other people putting items away so when I needed something I couldn't find it - I know I am OCD) and a lock under the bathroom sink cabinet. That being said, I have a HUGE box of baby proofing items that I intended to use but never got around to it. We seem ok so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500522 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:36:10 +0000 .twist. 1500522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: yep! He's motoring around like crazy now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500507 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:31:03 +0000 Cherrybee 1500507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: "if I passed out.... he would be safe and fine until my husband came home" I :heart: you for saying this! This sums up exactly what I want. I can't always watch her - even though I will always watch her! I want her environment to be completely safe, you know? And I'm heartbroken for that family and their poor little boy. So, so awful. </p> <p>Now I'm thinking about my inlaws' house, where she goes three days a week. How do I insist bolt all their furniture to the walls, when they are really relaxed about this kind of stuff and already think I'm crazy and paranoid. Hmm..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500465 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:18:30 +0000 immabeetoo 1500465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: yes pleasssse strap furniture to the walls! A little boy died last place we lived when a dresser fell on him :( </p> <p>I think a lot of it had to do with kid temperament. And how much freedom you give them. Mine is busy busy busy and a climber. So we have it set up so if I passed out or was locked in a bathroom, he would be safe and fine until my husband came home. We did do things somewhat incrementally as he showed us what else could be a problem :P </p> <p>Stairs, outlets, cords were our first priorities. Then furniture and sharp edges (within reason). Then cabinets and door knobs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500456 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:14:37 +0000 Cherrybee 1500456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Is L on the move yet? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500455 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:13:59 +0000 Cherrybee 1500455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: We had a huge baby gate that would have kept her corralled as you brilliantly described it (SO Texas! :happy: ) - it was more to keep the dogs away from her when she was really helpless - but we removed it at the weekend. I want her to have loads of space to practice moving about. Our house is so small - it would have been like keeping her in a play pen all day keeping her in our lounge!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500446 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:12:08 +0000 coopsmama 1500446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put outlet covers in every outlet on our main floor, will be buying a baby gate for the stairs, and moved anything dangerous up and far out of reach. We have one bookshelf downstairs we need to secure still but I'm usually watching him while he's awake during the day so that's been delayed but I'm making DH do it this weekend. :) Sounds like you guys have got it covered! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500415 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:02:21 +0000 .twist. 1500415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: ugh! Yes, we need to do that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500409 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:01:34 +0000 NovBaby1112 1500409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we did outlet covers and baby gate at stairs, that's pretty much it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500405 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:01:07 +0000 Bookish 1500405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Hehe. You sound like me a couple weeks ago. </p> <p>We are taking it one 'mobile stage' at a time. Like, right now we have:</p> <p>-outlets covered<br /> -baby gate to keep her coralled<br /> -removed things we didn't want torn apart from lower shelves<br /> -safety locks on bathroom/under kitchen sink cabinets</p> <p>And as we watch her go around and mess with stuff, we are learning what else to move/remove. For example, there are these sweet bookshelves in her room that were mine growing up, but she can very easily topple them over... those got removed this morning. Things like that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500396 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:58:50 +0000 Cherrybee 1500396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, I'm starting to relax now!! It seems like most of you just did a few little bits here and there and didn't overturn your entire house!! I'm definitely going to bolt all furniture to the walls though! That HAS to happen!!! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500388 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:57:47 +0000 .twist. 1500388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are babyproofing as we go. </p> <p>So far we have done outlet covers because this is a kid who wants to be electrocuted. We also just put up a baby gate in one room because he occasionally wanders to the stairs. Otherwise, we just make sure to keep cords out of reach. </p> <p>So far he's pretty uninterested in adult objects. We may need to do more when he's a bit more mobile. For now though, we haven't done much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500371 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:52:18 +0000 tinyperson 1500371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a baby gate at the top of the stairs, baby gates blocking the two exits from the living/dining room, the TV is secured, and we used outlet covers. That's it! LO is 15.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500358 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:50:15 +0000 lovehoneybee 1500358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tied off the cupboard below the sink that has chemicals, but that was pretty much it. We have an open layout apartment, and we'd need like....10-12 baby gates to close anything off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500313 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:32:57 +0000 MrsStar 1500313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did outlet covers, secured the TV, and locks on the kitchen cabinets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500312 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:32:46 +0000 swurlygurl 1500312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't want to believe in baby proofing, but our house is too open and I don't feel like cleaning up kitchen cabinet messes while she's learning how to listen.<br /> So, we did:<br /> Kitchen cabinet locks (tempting to do cabinet locks in our bathrooms too, but we're just working on getting her to listen at this point)<br /> Outlet covers (too dangerous to risk it - I remember watching my cousin get shot a couple feet away from an outlet after sticking a paperclip in it!!)<br /> Baby gate at the top of the stairs (I don't want to have to watch her like a hawk upstairs - especially while I'm getting ready in the mornings. Too easy to fall downstairs!!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500296 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:27:17 +0000 looch 1500296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hardly babyproofed. My husband didn't believe in baby gates and we didn't have stairs to deal with, so I went along with it.</p> <p>We did have a fireplace with a tile surround with jagged, sharp edges, so we covered those with a foam bumper. Other than that, we didn't do anything special. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500291 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:25:18 +0000 mediagirl 1500291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Locks on cabinet doors.<br /> Plugs in outlets.<br /> Gate at top of stairs.<br /> Secured a very tall bookshelf to the wall.</p> <p>Next up: Securing TV's to the wall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500264 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:18:52 +0000 Mrs. Taco 1500264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far only baby gates (they've been up since day 1 with our dogs) because we're moving to a new house in a few weeks. Our current method is "don't let baby out of your sight". There is A LOT of redirection going on!</p> <p>Our plans for our new home:<br /> -outlet covers<br /> -baby gates at top and bottom of stairs<br /> -kitchen cabinet locks<br /> -furniture foam depending on the new furniture we buy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500251 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:11:41 +0000 littlebug 1500251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: Kind of the same thing. He was constantly trying to come in the ktichen and get into drawers and cabinets, not to mention eat the cat's food. So we just gated the kitchen so he can't get in there. We've done outlet covers and a few soft corners on furniture. As he becomes more mobile and starts getting into more stuff, we'll reevalute. But for now, that seems to be all we need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500182 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:55:02 +0000 Smurfette 1500182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is what we did:<br /> -Foam around the edges of the coffee table (solid reclaimed wood)<br /> -Outlets covers<br /> -Gate blocking stairs down to the basement<br /> -Moved items off lower shelves</p> <p>So far she only opens one drawer in the kitchen, so that is her drawer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500181 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:54:52 +0000 junebugmama 1500181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did no baby proofing with J1, we put up gates for J2</p> <p>edit: we put latches on the cabinet under the sink where all the chemicals are </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-far-did-you-take-babyproofing#post-1500175 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:53:36 +0000 Weagle 1500175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We babyproofed as we went based on what she was attracted to. So we did cabinet locks, gates on stairs, and outlet covers. Nothing else. </p>