How to Baby-Proof the House Before the First Visit from the Grandbabies

The grandbabies are coming—cue the happy dance! But before those sweet little tornadoes arrive, let’s make sure your home is as safe as it is snuggly. If it’s been a minute (or a few decades) since you last baby-proofed, no worries—I’ve got your back. From covering outlets to stashing your meds, these real-talk tips from one grandma to another will help you get prepped like a pro.

Danger Zones for Grandbabies

Remember when you had your first baby? Along with that little bundle of joy came a host of new things you needed to learn, like how to use a car seat. Babyproofing your home ranked near the top of the list.

The first few months were easy enough, but when those little darlings started crawling, everything changed. All at once, your home became a dangerous obstacle course. Eye-level outlets beckoned. A dropped pill on the floor became candy. And, an open cabinet door offered a new place to explore.

When you become a grandparent, it starts all over again. This room-by-room guide will keep you prepped and ready for visits from your little treasures.

Remember: As grandparents, we may let some of the rules slide, but safety is non-negotiable.

Kids in the Kitchen

From a tempting stove knob to a within-reach handle of a pan filled with hot water, trouble lurks at every turn in the kitchen. Removable table bumpers keep sharp edges from being problematic. And remember, a tablecloth within reach is a hard temptation to resist. Little ones can pull down plates, hot foods and liquids with a tug.

Here are a few additional safety tips to baby-proof your kitchen:

• Use your stove’s back burners and keep pot handles turned to the back of the stove.
• Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edges of tables and counters.
• Don’t allow young children to use a microwave alone.
• Don’t leave a baby alone in a highchair and always use the safety straps.

Baby-Proof Cabinets

When my son was a baby, he loved to play in one of our kitchen cabinets. I stocked it with plastic toys, an old pot and a wooden spoon, which he, of course, used as a drum. The other cabinets were hands off. We added cabinet locks to enforce that rule!

And, when the kids were little, we kept cleaning products on the higher shelves. If, like me, you’ve resumed placing cleaning products under the kitchen sink, adding a cabinet lock will keep your precious grandbaby safe. While locked cabinets may not be necessary for everything, take a quick survey of the kitchen. Any cabinets that store small things (they are choking hazards) or plastic bags (which present a suffocation risk) should also be secured.

Baby-Proof Drawers

Any kitchen drawers containing sharp objects like cutlery or small tools and scissors should also be secured with plastic or magnetic locks. Adhesive-based straps offer another option for a temporary latch.

Keep the Living Room Livable and Safe

Chances are you’ll spend the majority of time with your grandkids in the living room. Safety precautions change as they grow and become more independently mobile, but here are a few key things to consider:

• Remove breakable objects from the coffee table.
• Consider adding temporary safety bumpers to soften the sharp corners.
• Tie up window blind drawstrings and curtain cords keep them out of reach.
• Don’t allow electrical cords to dangle.
• Lock doors that go outside, to stairs or to garages.
• Always keep an eye on your grandbaby near bookshelves or a big screen TV that could topple over.
• Plug those outlets!

Baby-Proof the Fireplace

If you’re planning to light a fire while the grandkids are in the house, it’s best to create a barrier between the flames and their little fingers. A baby gate will do the trick. And, of course, never leave a child unattended near a burning fire. Be sure to test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector to ensure both are working properly if you plan to light a fire.

Even if you’re not using the fireplace, the hearth’s sharp edges can present a hazard to little ones running around. Soften the corners by stacking pillows at the edges. And clean out the old ash and unburned logs before the kids arrive.

Baby-Proof Outlets

Nothing is more tempting to a crawling baby than an electrical outlet. They’re at eye level and have those oh so fascinating holes to poke things into. Outlet covers are an easy and cheap way to baby-proof the outlets.

Even if your little one only visits occasionally, it’s best to cover outlets. If you need to use the outlet, just remove the plug. And put it somewhere safe! You don’t want to leave it lying around where it can be become a choking hazard.

Baby-Proof that Christmas Tree!

One legendary Christmas when my son was a toddler, I took the cutest photo of him standing in front of the Christmas tree with his hands behind his back. It was a magical family moment since the year before he had pulled the tree over more than once. Ultimately, his dad had to move the tree to a corner and tie it to a stack of free weights too heavy for baby to move. Clearly, I knew nothing about child-proofing a Christmas tree back then!

So learn from my mistakes!

• Keep the expensive breakable ornaments near the top of the tree (or just save them for another year!) and put soft non-breakable ornaments at the bottom
• Tie ornaments to the tree with soft ribbon rather than metal ornament hooks.
• Put the tree in a strong base that isn’t easily tipped over.
• Consider wrapping some boxes filled with books or other heavy itemsand placing them under the tree to keep the baby away from the base.
• Secure electrical cords.

• Block off the tree with decorative indoor fencing or a series of baby gates if you prefer to keep the grandkids completely away from the tree.

Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Off-Limit Areas

If you’re setting up a room for your grandbaby, be sure to keep the baby’s crib and changing table away from window blind cords and drawstrings. A baby monitor offers peace of mind for you while your little one sleeps.

In the bathroom, remember to always put away your medications and hot curling irons and keep the toilet lids.

A determined toddler will do her best to open door handles to off-limits areas. To keep her from succeeding, consider using inexpensive round plastic covers. These require you to push a button and turn, which is too difficult for young children.

Baby-Proofing: It’s All Worth It!

Amazon will likely become your favorite website when you’re pulling all of this together–a luxury I didn’t have when my kids were little. But remember, nothing is too much trouble when it comes to spending time with our grandbabies!