When people say that the arrival of a baby will change everything about your life –– they mean everything. And that includes the very fabric of your domestic existence. Indeed, though you may not realize it yet, your current home may not be suitable for a child. From lack of amenities like a baby gate (some good tips on these can be found on Best For Mums website!), a bouncer to clandestine sharp edges, there are a number of easily overlooked factors that can render a living space uninhabitable for an infant. Don’t be daunted by the task of baby-prepping your home, though. Instead, check out these five ways to prepare your house for the arrival of your little one:
Health & Safety Tips
Obviously, your first priority should be to make your home safe for your little one. While some baby-proofing measures are obvious, others are more obscure. You can use this list as a guide to get started:
- Cover electrical outlets
- Remove dangling cords
- Lock cabinets and store hazardous cleaning supplies out of reach
- Install toilet locks
- Wall-off stairs with gates
- Use bumpers on sharp corners
Inspect Your Lawn
Children love to go outside and play, but not all houses have suitable play spaces in the form of a fenced-in lawn or yard. Though it may not be a priority now, it’s crucial to make sure that the areas just outside of your house are free of aging trees with loose or falling branches, nearby traffic, and/or potentially dangerous pests like snakes, spiders, and hornets. If you do find any of these pests on your lawn, it’s time to be rid of them to ensure a safe and happy environment for both you and the baby; you can call https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/tennessee/ who will banish the problem. Pests can be a huge problem for your home if they begin to establish a foothold in it. Wildlife like rodents and insects will flourish if left unchecked which is why jumping on the problem as soon as it rears its head is essential; whether you live in Calgary or elsewhere, speak to local pest control as soon as it’s convenient.
Claim Your Kitchen
If neither you nor your partner are particularly adept at cooking, now might be the perfect time to work on your culinary acumen. It doesn’t take much to learn a few simple, healthy, and delicious recipes, and getting acquainted with your kitchen now will help you manage your growing child’s diet more effectively over the years.
Making a Space for Baby
Setting up a nursery can be a more complicated process than some people realize. Buying the right crib, clothes, blankets, and toys to ensure that your baby is happy and healthy will take you lots of time (and cost you a significant chunk of change). So don’t put off decorating and furnishing your baby’s room until the last minute!
Prepare Yourself
There’s no two ways around it –– being a parent requires constant diligence and huge amounts of effort. First-time parents may not realize just how much time they’ll need to dedicate to looking after their little one, and other responsibilities will probably have to be put on hold for a while. In addition, always make sure to speak with your doctor before you start trying to conceive. Sometimes you may have to deal with an unexpected fertility issue –– or even have a procedure done to reverse a tubal ligation. (For more information on that very subject visit tuboplasty.com.) At the end of the day, raising a child is one of the most challenging commitments any person can make. However, it’s also one of the most rewarding.