Having a baby is one of the most thrilling and terrifying periods of a person’s life. The first few months of a new parent’s life revolves around little milestones, diapers, and sleepless nights. Many think that once their baby is more mobile and interactive that their lives magically become easier. However, the opposite is often true.
When your little bundle of joy begins crawling and walking, the home you have so carefully decorated becomes fraught with peril, and danger can lurk around every stylishly painted corner. All at once your custom cabinets become tethered with bulky plastic locks and your glass and marble coffee table gets center stage at your yard sale.
It’s crucial that the home of a newly mobile baby is safe, but that doesn’t mean that style has to be tossed out with the proverbial bathwater. If you’re struggling to find the balance between baby-proof and beautiful, learn more about stylish decorating with child safety in mind, and be sure to consult a professional baby proofer with any questions you might have.
1. Swap Sharp Edges for Soft and Round
A home’s furnishings might seem innocuous to the casual observer, but to a new parent even their couch can be a death trap. Sharp edges, fabrics with buttons, and more can all be hazardous for a mobile baby. While it’s not necessary to switch out your entire living room, it is wise to carefully assess your pieces for potential hazards.
When considering baby-proof furniture, think soft and cozy. Couches and chairs with rounded edges and plush fabrics like ottomans and floor cushions are much more baby friendly. Some experts advise purchasing a couch or chairs that are lower to the ground to help prevent dangerous falls. Regardless of the choice you make, rest assured that you will find furniture that is stylish and safe.
2. Lock up Kitchen Cabinets
The kitchen can be one of the most frightening rooms in the house for a new parent. It’s full of glass, knives, hot stoves, and other safety risks. However, part of the appeal of a great kitchen are those very same dangerous items. What’s a parent to do?
One of the easiest ways to secure a kitchen from prying little hands is by placing breakable or dangerous items on high shelves and by using cabinet locks and baby gates. However, gone are the days when locks and gates seemed more at home in a hardware store. These simple devices are now more sleek and modern than ever, while still providing the safety and security new parents want.
Additionally, if you thought your kitchen got untidy when you were childless, you’re in for a new level of messy. Kids spill things, vomit, and smear surfaces with their little hands. Consider keeping BleachSafe kitchen towels on hand for the inevitable messes your young one makes. The towels are made to be both stylish and long-lasting.
3. Choose Stylish and Baby-Safe Decor
In your childless days, you might have visited the homes of new parents and found your eyes traveling to the top of the room. Curios and decorations once proudly displayed much lower were now resigned to the tops of towering shelves, and the spaces near the floor were either bare or crowded with toys. While this is a great way to keep little hands from breakable or unsafe objects, it does little for the esthetic of the room.
First of all, think about a great rug for your family or living room. Choose a fluffy or plush model that provides a soft place to fall but that also ties the room together. Then think about creative storage solutions for all of those toys. Baskets and bins work well as a way to quickly and easily tuck those things away when not in use. Soft-sided bins come in a wide array of colors and designs, and baskets can be easily moved from room to room if necessary. Lastly, many clever toy designers are crafting playthings that are so creative and so cool that your guests might not even be aware that they’re toys. Find some of these that complement your decor and you win.
Having a baby is a wonderful life-changing event, but it is not without its challenges. Provide all the love, hugs, and support that you can while also giving them a safe place to live and you’ll be well on your way to the parent of the year award. And you’ll be able to do it all in a stylish, yet very safe way.
Article Submitted By Community Writer.
