One day you’re bringing home a sweet little bundle of joy, a little human that is so cute, snuggly, and stationary. Then all of a sudden you blink, and that sweet baby no longer likes to stay where you last set them! 

As babies become more mobile, they also become more inquisitive. When they are able to explore new areas of the house, it’s now time to take a good look around and do some baby-proofing. Of course, most stores carry a variety of baby proofing items...everything from outlet covers and cabinet locks to padded corners for tables and counters. I have never purchased many baby safety items...our family prefers to make some simple changes within our home and to our routine to get us through this stage. Here is a look at some of the ways we have made our home safer for a baby on the move: 

Outlet covers. As I stated before, I don’t typically buy a lot of products for baby proofing, but outlet covers are an item I think every family needs! I’m not sure what is so fascinating about those little electrical sockets, but they are a magnet for little fingers and toys. Covers are relatively inexpensive so grab a box and get them covered! 

Stair gates. The other item that I like to make sure we have is a gate for our stairs. You can find several styles and sizes in stores or online. For our family, I opted to make our own. With just a little bit of wood I was able to make a gate that was both practical and pretty. This new phase isn’t short lived, so it’s important to go with a style that you’re happy with. 

Some other small changes we make to ensure our home is more baby friendly are: 

-Getting in the habit of closing the bathroom when you are finished. There’s nothing for babies in a bathroom! Rather than buy locks for toilets and cabinets we choose to just keep them out of there all together if we can. 

-Make a furniture swap! We like to make the most out of what we have. Sometimes just some simple rearranging is all that needs to be done. For example, I put away our coffee table that has hard edges and replaced it with a softer ottoman from another room. 

-Ensure your shelving is secure. Hopefully any heavy book shelves or console tables are already safely secured to the wall to avoid any tipping. If they are not, now is the perfect time to do a walk-through of your home and double check! 

-Clean those kitchen cabinets. I don’t lock any of our kitchen cabinets...instead I clean them out and do some rearranging. I like to keep items the kids use lower so they are within easy reach for them to grab on their own. If you don’t have the non-breakable stuff down low, now is the time to make the switch. Plus, that plastic container and lid cupboard can provide hours of entertainment for little ones if they choose to explore it! 

Mobile babies can be challenging (and fast!) but with some easy changes at home you’ll be able to keep that little daredevil safe and sound.