I found this checklist for baby proofing your home, thought it might be helpful!!

[taken062406]

This is kind of a long one.  But I thought it had some really good stuff on it.  And I know that I am starting to feel that 'nesting' feeling.  so I thought it might be helpful.

Baby Proofing Our Home

Before your child begins to crawl, use this helpful checklist of household precautions to make your home a safe place for your growing baby.

Each year, an estimated 22 million children are involved in accidents inside their homes and in their yards. As many as nine out of ten of these accidents could have been prevented by following simple household safety measures. Remember that babies can get into trouble faster than you can imagine. If there's a dangerous spot in the house, a baby will surely find it.

Before your baby begins to crawl, there are some household precautions you should take to safeguard your little one. Below is a list of helpful safety devices that you can install within your home to protect your baby and your piece of mind. Many of these devices can be purchased at either your local department store or toy store.
Living Room Safety

# Keep fans and space heaters—which can cause severe burns and cuts—out of your baby's reach.

# Install electrical outlet plugs to protect your baby from shock.

# Lock windows to prevent your child from falling outside.

# Remove or shorten any cord that your child can reach. Cords from blinds or drapes can cause strangulation.

# Always pick up toys so that no one slips and falls on them.

# Place decals on glass doors at your baby's height so that he or she doesn't crawl or toddle into the glass.

# Secure all furniture so your baby cannot pull anything over on himself/herself.

Kitchen Safety

# Move cleaners far from your baby's reach—do not keep them under the sink.

# Install electrical outlet plugs to protect your baby from shock.

# Place covers over the stove's burners and cook on the back burners. Keep pot handles faced inwards towards the back of the stove and/or keep baby contained in highchair or playpen when cooking.

# Move sharp, tiny, and/or poisonous objects to a drawer with a safety latch.

# Keep baking soda and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen area, in case of a cooking fire.

# Keep alcoholic beverages far from your baby's reach.

# Secure all tablecloths to the table so your child cannot pull anything onto him/herself.

# Dispose of plastic grocery bags and dry cleaning bags immediately; these can cause suffocation.

# Never use hot tap water for mixing your baby's formula or food.

# Store glassware in high cupboards out of reach.

# Lock garbage bins so that your baby cannot access to them.

# Never hold or pass hot liquids over your baby.

# Never let your baby pick up sharp objects such as scissors or sharp pencils.

# Remove cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, and matches from your baby's reach.

# Install childproof safety latches on lower cabinet doors and/or make the kitchen off limits with a gate. You can also make one cabinet accessible with safe playthings like wooden spoons and sturdy bowls.

# Keep your purse out of reach of your baby. Many small objects like coins can easily find their way into your baby's mouth.
Bedroom Safety

# Keep pillows out of the crib until your baby is a year old.

# Install electrical outlet plugs to protect your baby from shock.

# Keep small jewelry, perfumes and colognes, shoe polishing materials, belts, scarves, and ties out of your baby's reach.

# Never lock a baby into a room.

# Make sure closets can be opened from the inside, so that your toddler doesn't get locked in.

# Never allow your baby to sleep with a bib on.

# Keep older children's toys out of your baby's reach.

# Keep button batteries away from your child; they can cause intoxication with mercury and acid. Button batteries can be found in watches, small toys, computer games, and other small gadgets. In the United States there is a 24-hour emergency consultation service called the National Button Battery Ingestion Hotline [phone]). Over a 7-year period they followed 2382 cases of swallowed batteries. Of these, 62 were larger cylindrical batteries, and the rest were buttons.

Bathroom Safety

# Never leave your baby alone in the bathroom for any reason. Babies can drown very easily and quickly without constant supervision.

# Install electrical outlet plugs to protect your baby from shock.

# When running bathtub water, turn off the hot water first so that if your baby accidentally turns on the water, he or she is not burned by water left in the faucet.

# Keep medicines, cosmetics, and razor blades well out of reach.

# Never leave water sitting in a tub, remove razors from the edge of tub, and add adhesive non-slip decals to the bottom of the tub.

# You may choose to place faucet covers over the waterspout (though these can easily slip off if you're not careful).

# Small children are capable of drowning in toilet bowls. If you cannot purchase a toilet latch, remember to keep the bathroom door closed and latched.

# Never leave electrical appliances plugged in near water.
Stair and Hallway Safety

# Place smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home (one per floor).

# Install electrical outlet plugs to protect your baby from shock.

# Block your child's access to all stairways.

# Be sure hallways and stairs are well lit.

# Always hold onto the safety railing when carrying your child up and down the steps.

# Install safety gates to close off high risk areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and stairs. (Safety gates are not always reliable; babies can dislodge some gates, and some have small pieces that babies can swallow.)

Blind Cords

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been approximately 130 deaths of children strangled by window cords in the past 10 years. Accidents occur when an infant is in a crib near a window and becomes tangled in the cords while playing or sleeping. They also occur when a toddler climbs on furniture and grabs onto the cords to look out a window.

To protect your child, cut the loops of window cords, put on safety tassels, and keep your furniture away from blind cords. For information on getting free safety tassles, visit the Window Covering Safety Council.
Household Baby Hazards

# Electrical outlets: Hide behind furniture or cover with plastic caps.

# Electrical cords: Wrap up the slack and place them out of reach. Try hiding them behind furniture.

# Doors: Keep doors locked and make sure screens are locked and there are no holes or gaps.

# Tables: Cover sharp corners with homemade or store-bought corner guards.

# Curtains and blinds: Don't let ties or cords dangle. Keep baby's playpen or crib away.

# Floors: Keep floors clean and vacuumed. Small objects can end up in a small child's mouth and cause choking.

# Windows: Use window guards on high floors. Make sure all windows are securely locked at all times.

# Furniture: Fix and repair all wobbly furniture and make sure all knobs are securely tight. Position furniture so that it can't be pulled over, and keep dresser drawers closed.

# Walls: Make sure the paint in your house is lead free, especially if it was built before 1978. Call 1-800-LEAD-FYI to get a paint chip analyzed.

# Garbage: Secure garbage behind a latched door or make sure it has a tight secure lid.

# Other appliances: Install appropriate latches to any appliances in your little one's reach.

[leetlebeanweasle]

Wow. That was super long but like FEOT said very informative. :)

I have been getting a little 'nesty' as DH calls it but it will do me no good until our house sells. Boo.

[FEOT]

Long but very informative. Thanks!!