This post was sponsored by Summer Infant.
You know that old saying, “As soon as you get rid of all your baby stuff, you’ll get pregnant”? Yep, that was us! Baby number 3 is almost 10 months now, and with that comes curiosity and movement. Everything in sight is pulled at, thrown in his mouth, or climbed on. With September being National Baby Safety Month, I thought it was a great time to share our five essential baby-proofing products.
1. Gates
One of the most necessary parent safety products? A gate. They prevent your child from falling down the stairs, or climbing upstairs and risking falling. There are so many choices available for your family, from the simple, to those with modern designs. Just keep in mind that gates at the bottom of the stairs can be pressure mounted, but gates at the top must be drilled in to avoid your little one pushing it down.
2. Door Handle Lock
We all know how much toddlers love water, and the bathroom is a fun place: there’s a toilet to throw things in, and a low sink to turn on and splash around in. Not on my watch, buddy! You can buy a toilet cover lock like this one from Summer Infant, or put door handle locks on doors to rooms that you don’t want your little one nosing around in. They are also available for round knobs.
3. Furniture Straps
We talk a lot on Baby Gizmo about the importance of anchoring large items to the wall or to another larger item like the television in this photo. The CSPC states that 1 child dies every two weeks from furniture tipping over onto them, and a child is injured every 24 minutes from furniture or TV falling. That statistic is frighteningly high. This is preventable by ensuring that all your large electronics and furniture are securely anchored to a wall. So furniture straps like these are essential.
4. Appliance/Cabinet Latches
Has your pediatrician given you the phone number for Poison Control? According to the CDC, over 300 children in the United States are rushed to the emergency department every day, and two die, as a result of being poisoned. Put these latches on your cabinet doors to stop your little one from getting near any medicine, cleaning supplies, batteries, or anything else harmful. Need something for your drawers too? Check these out.
5. Portable Playard
With regular trips to the playground and the beach, and having older kids who regularly play with tiny, choking-hazard Legos, a safe space for a mobile baby is essential. One that you can just pack up and take with you on a playdate? Bonus! Our editor reviewed this Pop N’ Play Playard and it looks like I’ll be buying one too!
Thank you to Summer Infant for sponsoring this post. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.