10 Easy Baby-Proofing Steps to Keep Your Home Chic and Your Baby Happy

When your child begins to crawl around and stand up, their innate curiosity begins to come out as well. While simply closing a door to a room that is off limits worked in the past, you may want to consider installing doorknob covers, especially on doors that lead outside.

Your kitchen and bathroom are full of cabinets and drawers within reach of a crawling baby, which in turn are full of fun, interesting, and, of course, dangerous items that are easy for your baby to get a hold of. It's easy to install safety latches on the lower cabinets and drawers throughout your home so your child doesn't play with items that could potentially be harmful to them.

Some of the most dangerous items for your child to have access to are appliances like stoves and dishwashers, but sometimes they're not the first thing parents consider baby proofing. Put covers on the knobs and safety latches on the handles to prevent injuries to your child, as well as fire hazards.

If your child has access to their toys, they're less likely to want to explore parts of your home that may be off limits and potentially dangerous. Keep toys, books, and other play things in a box that is easily reachable for them, so they can keep themselves occupied in a safe way.

As babies begin to crawl and walk, they also start to experience more falls and accidents. This is perfectly normal, but you may want to consider the use of plush carpets or rugs in their nursery and in the main living areas of your home. This will provide them with a bit more cushioning the next time they take a tumble.

You want to make your baby's nursery feel cozy and encourage their imagination with the decor, but try to avoid heavy artwork on the walls above the crib, especially if you live in an area that's prone to earthquakes. If it's not hung properly, heavy decor could come crashing down onto the crib.

Bookshelves, armoires, and dressers are common in many homes, and they provide ample opportunity for your baby or toddler to climb and potentially get themselves into serious trouble. Make sure any pieces of large furniture are stable and affixed to the wall, so there's no chance they'll topple over.

Even if you've made sure to secure framed pictures to the nursery walls and it's unlikely that they're going to fall down, it's a good idea to remove the glass anyway. You can easily replace the glass with transparent acrylic and rest easy knowing that there's one less hazard in the nursery.

Most of us can't replace all of the furniture in our homes so that it's baby-friendly, but you can adapt the furniture you do have. Put caps on furniture with sharp edges, or if you're a big do-it-yourselfer, try sanding down and refinishing pieces so they won't pose a danger if your child bumps into them.

An unused outlet can be a serious danger in a house with a baby. Babies love to explore as they start to become more mobile, and there's nothing stopping them from sticking a finger or other object into an unused outlet. Cover any unused outlets, including power bars, so you can prevent a potentially catastrophic injury to your baby.