As a new parent, you probably have thousands of questions and concerns. Luckily, with a little bit of help, baby-proofing doesn’t have to be one of those concerns. On the following pages, you will find a quick and easy guide to baby proofing your home and surrounding areas. We have talked with the foremost experts in the field, as well as moms and dads, to find out what works and what doesn’t.

The key to babyproofing is to see the world through your babies eyes. Get down on your hands and knees and start crawling around the room. Be mindful of the following:

1. Small items - your baby will experience the world through their mouths first. Clear the tables and floors of coins, paper clips, or anything else that could be easily lodged in your babies’ throat.

2. Electrical items - babies love to explore electrical outlets, and can easily be hurt by uncovered outlets. Be mindful of cords, fans, and lamps as well.

3. Drawers/Cabinets - little ones are fascinated by the action of opening and closing drawers and cabinets. If they can reach it, they will try to open it. Be mindful of drawers/cabinets containing cleaning supplies, medicine, or other hazardous chemicals.

4. Stairs- if you have a multi-level home does your child have access to stairs and doorways?

What did you find? Chances are you found at least a handful of problem areas that you will want to address immediately. There are many other items, which we will go over in detail.

You have lived in your home for a few years now, and you cannot imagine that it could be a dangerous place, right? Wrong. A child views the world first with their hands and mouths. If you got down on your hands and knees and started to crawl around, you already know some of the dangers that your new baby will face on a day to day basis.

If this is your first child, you may be overwhelmed by all of the things you must do before the baby comes. I would like to stress that baby proofing should be done before your little one arrives. Once the day to day tasks start to set in, it is difficult to find the time that is necessary to adequately baby proof your home.

Hiring a professional is a good choice for busy parents that don’t have time to bother with baby proofing themselves. There are many qualified baby-proofing companies that can help you create a safe environment for your little one. I would recommend searching on Babyproofingdirectory.com by your zip code, and then asking the child safety company for references. A reputable company should have no trouble giving you the names of past customers. You can then ask questions about their service, timeliness, etc.

First time parents may find these services especially helpful. Your little one may get into things that you could never have even imagined! Hiring a professional will help catch the little things that a first time parent can miss.

The cons of using such a service have to do with budget and perhaps timing. Baby proofing is big business, and you can expect to pay a pretty penny for their services. Many parents complain about the length of time that a professional takes to schedule the baby proofing of your home. If the agency is busy, you can expect to wait a month or two before your home is protected.

Many parents decide to do it themselves. With a little bit of research, and the help of the Room by Room proofing tips, you should have no trouble getting the job done quickly and under budget. Doing it yourself has a lot of advantages. You have your little one’s best interest at heart, and will be able to adapt as your baby grows. Since you understand the ins and outs of baby proofing, you can quickly add precautions as your child grows. Second, you control the budget. You can choose to do a little bit at a time if money is an issue.