There are many things that a parent-to-be must concentrate on. Some of the most important things are:
- The changes that having a baby will bring to your life.
- Your own diet and exercise and general health.
- The medical facility where you will have your baby.
- The support group that will swing into action for you and so on.
There is also the safety and wellbeing of your precious baby, especially when he or she is old enough to crawl around and starts exploring the big, beautiful world around.
Childproofing your home
There are a quite a few things you can do to make your home and surroundings safe for your little one. Some of these things could be:
- Covering up electrical sockets that can be within reach of your baby.
- Investing in soft, large pillows that can be placed around the cot or crib.
- Changing furniture that has sharp edges and so on.
There is also one more thing you should invest in and that is baby gates. Looking for the best baby gate brands is easy when you go online and you know what to look for.
What are baby gates?
Baby gates help restrict a curious baby to safe areas when it comes to stairs. Almost every house has a set of stairs and even if the stairs are carpeted, they can cause a tiny baby injury if the baby takes a tumble. A gate fixed at the bottom and the top of the stairs can prevent this from happening. More often than not, these baby gates come into play when:
- Your baby is around 7 to 8 months old or when he or she is crawling around.
- You have a flight of stairs connecting two or more floors in your house.
Typically, the gates will be used only for a short duration. Because when your little one is old enough to climb over the gates, they can be potentially harmful.
Rule of thumb
There are two measurements that you must take when buying a baby gate – even when it is a branded baby gate. These two measurements are:
- The measurement of the stairs of course – the width and height and all that.
- The height of your baby.
Then when you buy a gate, you have to ensure that it is at least 3/4th the height or length of your baby. This will thwart even the most determined baby from his or her efforts at pulling themselves up to scale the gate.
Your baby gate also needs to be sturdy – in its build and in the way it is fixed to the stairs. This will ensure that it does not buckle or collapse even if your baby tries to pull himself up with its support.
Get into details such as narrow spaces between slats so your baby does not get a foot or head or hand stuck inside and even gates that come fitted with alarms that alert you if they are opened or closed. Understand and get to know the gate completely before investing in the same.