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As your baby becomes mobile, it is important to make sure that she is safe in your home. A good first step is to crawl around your home yourself. Anywhere that your baby will be, get down on the floor and take a look around. When I did this in my home, the first thing I noticed was the little pieces of lint that the vacuum cleaner did not pick up. They were the perfect size to fit in my five-month-old's mouth and could definitely be a choking hazard. I immediately went around the living room picking them up.
Another possible hazard that is easy to fix is uncovered outlets. It is better to purchase the outlet covers that slide down over the outlet rather than just the plugs because the plugs can be a choking hazard. I have also found that the outlet plugs are extremely difficult to remove when you need to use the outlet, so the sliding cover is easier in that respect as well.
Next, focus on sharp corners that may be easy for your child to bump into. It is possible to buy soft bumpers for sharp edges and corners. You could also just move the offending piece of furniture to an area that is less likely to be bumped. In our home, I put the baby's bouncy chair in front of a bookshelf's corner to block it from my scooting child. I try to get to her before she gets that far, but just in case, the round leg of the bouncy chair would not hurt her if she bumped it.
For some families, a baby gate is a must to keep baby out of areas that cannot be childproofed. When we lived in a two-story home, we installed baby gates that fit at both the bottom and the top of the stairs to prevent accidental falls. Try not to buy the cheap plastic ones if you are going to purchase baby gates. They tend to be easy to push over. It is safer to go with the sturdy metal ones.
No amount of childproofing can take the place of proper supervision, however. Always keep your child in sight. Watch what she is getting into and remove any potential hazards. My child loves to head for cords to chew on, and I always try to get those out of the way quickly.
It is very difficult to never leave your child alone at all (even the most diligent mother has to go the bathroom once in a while). Make sure that if you do leave your child for a minute, she is always in a safe place, such as the crib. I have been known to take the bouncy seat into the bathroom so I could grab a quick shower.
The goal of all this is to keep your baby safe. Some families choose to do lots of childproofing, perhaps even hiring someone to childproof their home. Some choose to do minimal childproofing, focusing on proper supervision. Whichever you choose, remember that your baby can move faster than you think, so always keep her close.
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