When my son first became mobile and it was clear it was time to start “baby-proofing,” I knew I didn’t want to go overboard. I didn’t want to add ugly locks and covers to everything, but I also didn’t want to spend every waking hour telling my kid not to touch things. I didn’t want to have a home that wasn’t a safe, fun place for him to learn and grow. But who wants their home to look like a preschool, right? I fully believe you can childproof your home without sacrificing style. With a few simple hacks, and yes, a little bit of leeway on your part, you can create a space that’s safe and enjoyable for all.
Cover the sharp corners
This is kind of a given, but you’d be surprised how many parents struggle with getting rid of their vintage coffee table. And I get it, it’s a treasure. Instead of adding foam corners, add silicone corner guards as a temporary solution that helps keep little bodies safe from tumbles, but also doesn’t completely change the aesthetic of your favorite furniture.
Magnets are your friend
Invisible baby-proofing? It’s totally a thing! When my son started toddling we bought a bunch of magnetic cabinet locks for the kitchen and bathroom. This way, you don’t have to keep an unappealing lock on the outside of each cabinet and fumble with it whenever you want to throw something in the trash. We just kept the magnet “opener” on our fridge for easy access. The beauty of these magnet locks is that you can turn them off when you don’t need to use them. So on the outside, your kitchen is as beautiful as ever and your child can’t get into your drawer of cooking utensils.
Anchor everything
This may be a bit of a time-consuming project, but it’s a must. Especially if you live in California like I do where Earthquakes can hit whenever they feel like it. Anchors are great because you can’t see them, and because you can still hang on to all your favorite furniture without worrying about injury.
Go cordless with your window treatments
Cordless blinds are a great option for keeping your home safe without sacrificing style because they provide shade and a contemporary look while eliminating the choking hazards that come with cords. If you’re in a rental or can’t change out your blinds, you can get some minimal and simple cord wraps to keep those tempting strings out of little hands.
Invest in plexiglass
If your home has stairs, balconies or decks, you can hire a professional to custom cut and provide plexiglass products to provide safety barriers where railings have wide spaces that can pose a hazard. Since plexiglass is transparent, it won’t change the look of your home but will keep little ones safe.
Use outlet and cord covers that match your décor
Buying electrical outlet plugs that match your outlets can ensure they blend in and don’t stand out. I actually prefer the “self-closing” outlet covers that close automatically when nothing is plugged in to protect against little fingers. You never realize how many outlets and cords you have exposed until there’s a tiny human trying to play with them. Look for cord covers or boxes that match your existing décor. You can paint them to match your walls or look for cord boxes that are the same family of wood as your furniture.
These are just a few of the things you can do to protect your precious kiddos without sacrificing style in your home. Read this Childproofing Checklist from ECD to make sure you are covering all your bases. Because as much as we love good décor, we love our little ones most and their safety always comes first!
Main and featured image via our home tour with Amanda Watters
