Childproofing: File This Under You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do

Ask any parent: the minute your baby becomes mobile is the minute you need to childproof your home. Stat. But the truth is that we don't all have the luxury or, let's be honest, the foresight to hire a professional to come into our home and make sure it's safe for our little darling. Not to mention that for many of us there is literally no store-bought contraption on earth that will stop our little Houdinis from escaping their rooms, climbing on our counters, and getting into who-knows-what. So as parents, we have to get a little creative on the childproofing front. Obviously, it's always best practice to use the proper products or hire a professional to come in and take care of any potential danger zones in your home, but these folks have hilariously demonstrated that sometimes, as a parent, you just gotta do what you gotta do.

When your tot masters using a chair to climb on the table.
Instagram | mrswalker1983

When your tot masters using a chair to climb on the table.

Believe me, pulling your baby off your table every minute you turn your back gets old really fast.

. . . until he learns to climb up on the turned-over chairs too.
Instagram | citigurl28

. . . until he learns to climb up on the turned-over chairs too.

OK baby, let's just see you try to figure this one out.

In the case of the baby vs. the hearth . . .
Instagram | xenorhabdus

In the case of the baby vs. the hearth . . .

. . . Mom and Dad win.

Baby gates take on a whole new meaning.
Instagram | jessicaw43

Baby gates take on a whole new meaning.

And by new, I mean bigger and wider as to cover more square footage.

Though sometimes they're just not enough.
Instagram | drbatcher

Though sometimes they're just not enough.

Need more layers.

Because barriers really are your first defense.
Instagram | ellenvt_artist

Because barriers really are your first defense.

Or, if nothing else, buy you a little time.

. . . even Christmas trees.
Instagram | hapamamajama

. . . even Christmas trees.

Ah, I still remember our Christmas tree on top of the table year.

Belting the toilet provides the babyproofing trifecta.
Instagram | hgi4

Belting the toilet provides the babyproofing trifecta.

It keeps your baby from drowning in your toilet. It keeps your baby from flushing things down your toilet. It annoys the crap out of anyone else who's really gotta go (pun intended).

This is the first line of defense in protecting your tot's noggin.
Instagram | rseacombe

This is the first line of defense in protecting your tot's noggin.

Because, well, a helmet appears to be your only other option.

You will literally try anything to keep your baby from bumping his head.
Instagram | lovelymisslisamarie

You will literally try anything to keep your baby from bumping his head.

. . . like anything.
Instagram | meryl_beetle

. . . like anything.

Just please make the goose eggs stop.

And then you discover the art of babyproofing with duct tape.
Instagram | matswaltin

And then you discover the art of babyproofing with duct tape.

Game changer.

. . . and your desk drawers . . .
Instagram | franktorcisi

. . . and your desk drawers . . .

. . . and the water/ice dispenser on the fridge.
Instagram | nicholelouisel

. . . and the water/ice dispenser on the fridge.

And when you're out of duct tape, any old tape will do.
Instagram | treacy4

And when you're out of duct tape, any old tape will do.

Because babies suck at figuring out how tape works.

Case in point: when your baby figures out how to remove the plastic covers you bought.
Instagram | lovelydesignsbyrenee

Case in point: when your baby figures out how to remove the plastic covers you bought.

Tape 'em on!

Tape to keep the baby off the remote.
Instagram | mrsnrthomson

Tape to keep the baby off the remote.

I'm not even really sure what is going on here, yet I still totally get it.

Tape to keep the baby from changing the temp on the AC.
Instagram | dackfaid

Tape to keep the baby from changing the temp on the AC.

No more pushing Mommy's buttons, literally!

And when in a pinch, wooden spoons come in handy too.
Instagram | boostventilator

And when in a pinch, wooden spoons come in handy too.

Unless, you know, you love reorganizing your drawers nightly.

When the bungee cords come into play, you know you're in the thick of it.
Instagram | theroberta

When the bungee cords come into play, you know you're in the thick of it.

They are twofold. They might stop your kid from climbing the table (yup, still a problem) as well as from dragging your chairs all over the house to get to other forbidden things.

Let's see you slide the chairs around the house now!
Instagram | jazmin_1995

Let's see you slide the chairs around the house now!

Childproofing just got real.

Let's face it: you're a heavy sleeper and your toddler likes to "cook myself din-din."
Instagram | kari_627

Let's face it: you're a heavy sleeper and your toddler likes to "cook myself din-din."

For his safety (and your sanity), you will literally try anything if it means keeping him in his room at night.

Furniture barricades often do the trick.
Instagram | memefozde

Furniture barricades often do the trick.

Remember, the more layers the better.

Here's a genius solution for when your kid gets into your makeup drawer.
Instagram | chey_tayy

Here's a genius solution for when your kid gets into your makeup drawer.

Cracked powders and blush disasters are a thing of the past for the smart mama!

Been there, done that.
Instagram | tmcereno

Been there, done that.

What's up with the fascination with these little suckers?

No one is using Mommy's good scissors.
Instagram | highcottoncraft

No one is using Mommy's good scissors.

And by no one, I mean a certain toddler who loves to cut her own hair.

When your baby loves to take down your favorite lamp.
Instagram | nikbiggles

When your baby loves to take down your favorite lamp.

Put a ring on it. And secure it to the wall.

And then when you get your house safe for your baby . . .
Instagram | m_specs

And then when you get your house safe for your baby . . .

. . . it's time to make your house safe from your baby.