If you are a new grandparent, you may be unsure as to which baby proofing steps you should take. If so, you may find the five following tips helpful. These are baby proofing steps that you should take to make your home a safer place.

1. Cover All Electrical Outlets
   The covering of electrical outlets is one of the most important baby proofing steps, but it is also one of the simplest. Outlet covers are ideal for reducing injury to curious children. Baby outlet covers are affordably priced. In fact, multiple packs of outlet covers can often be purchased for one or two dollars!
2. Cover All Electrical Cords
   Unfortunately, the covering of all electrical cords is a baby proofing step that many grandparents and even parents fail to take into consideration. Loose cords, such as those for phones and televisions, can pose choking hazards. Simply fastening all cords to the floor or the wall should be enough, but there are also cover boxes that can be purchased as well.
3. Remove All Reachable Glass
   If one thing is sure, it is that glass and children often do not mix. All reachable glass should be removed from homes with children present. This most often includes pictures frames, candleholders, and other works of art. Furniture should also be examined. Although glass coffee tables and end tables are beautiful, they are not ideal for young children, as they pose a serious risk of injury.
4. Purchase Baby Gates
   Baby gates are another important component of baby proofing. Baby gates are ideal for any home where children will be present, but they are must haves when a home has a potentially dangerous set of stairs. Baby gates can also be used to block off portions of a home that have yet to be baby proofed.
5. Use Furniture Pads
   Furniture pads are ideal for homes that may have many sharp corners on objects, such as coffee tables, end tables, or countertops. These padding blocks slip right on to a piece of furniture, namely the corners, and they come in a number of different colors. They are ideal for preventing head injuries, especially for infants learning to crawl or walk.

The above mentioned baby proofing steps are just a few of the many that grandparents, like you, should take. For your grandchild’s first visit, make sure that you have a pen and paper handy. As you see them in your home, you are likely to come up with more great ideas on how to keep your home baby proofed.

There are many details to remember when it comes to baby proofing your home and many times there are things you may miss in the process. The first suggestion many will give you is to get down on your hands and knees so you can see the world from your babies point of view. There may be something that your baby can see, being down low, that you can’t. If you get down to your baby’s level you can catch all those little details.

Speaking of Little…
Remember to pick up any and all little items left on the floor. Anything your baby picks up will eventually find its way to his mouth. These little things can be easily swallowed by your baby causing him to choke. It is best to keep anything that can fit into a roll of toilet paper up out of your baby’s reach.

Electrical Items
You have to be very careful about electrical outlets and cords. Babies can take smaller items, and stick them in an outlet resulting in electrocution. They can also get tangled up in the electrical cords themselves, or possibly even start chewing on cords when they are teething. They have outlet covers that you can buy at your local store and cord covers which keep the cords away from your baby’s reach.

Drawers and Cabinets
It is important that you install cabinet and drawer locks on your cabinets and drawers. When your baby is crawling and walking he can get into things and places he shouldn’t be getting into. Often cabinets contain poisons and sharp objects and other things nut suitable for baby. Your baby can get into these items and hurt himself before you even realize he is in danger, so it is best to get the cabinets and drawers secured as early as possible.

Sharp Corners
An area you need to make sure is baby proofed that many people do not remember is the corners of your counters and furniture. Many times your couch or tables will have pointy sharp corners on them that your baby will eventually run into resulting in head injury. Luckily there is a solution for the sharp corners as well. You can actually buy corner protectors to put on your tables and counter that round them out so when your baby does run into them, they do not get hurt.

Glass Doors
If you have a big glass patio door, you can’t forget about it! When clean these are often completely see through, and to a baby just learning to walk or a toddler, they can be hurt by running into them. If you have a glass door stick some window appliqués on them at your child’s level so they see them when they are walking around and do not hit the glass full force.

Swimming Pools
Not only dangerous during the summer months, but year round as well, poola are VERY dangerous. If you have an above ground pool you should drain it if possible during the month’s it’s not in use. If you do not have an above ground pool make sure you have a locked gate surrounding your pool, and a cover that your baby can not fall through. Your baby can drown in as little as 2 inches of water, so it is best to not take chances.

Stairways
If you have stairs in your home it is simple to protect your baby from taking a dangerous fall. Invest in a couple of inexpensive baby gates to put at the top and the bottom of the stairs. This will keep your baby from crawling up, and from falling down the stairs possibly causing serious injuries.

Baby proofing your home is a very important detail that shouldn’t be overlooked. In the end it is the health and safety of your baby that is at stake, and making sure your baby is protected is worth all costs.