Yeehlow

When you’ve got a new baby on the way, it’s normal for you to be anxious about making your home as baby-proof as possible. The problem is, when you have a rented property it’s not always easy to both make changes to your home and ensure your security deposit stays safe.

So, before you start making lots of unnecessary changes to your rental, here are our top tips for making your rented home as baby-proof as possible:

Windows

Windows are one of the most dangerous aspects of a home when it comes to babies and toddlers, so it’s essential that you take measures to keep your child away from them. Firstly, you can buy safety locks for windows cheaply, which will stop kids from being able to open any windows. Plus, any furniture that can be climbed on should be kept away from windows.

You should also be careful of any cords near a window, such as those you get on blinds. Although you might be able to change your window coverings as you’re renting, you can have these tied up away from their reach.

Stairs and Doorways

Stairs and doorways pose some of the greatest risks to a child, which means that baby gates are a must. The problem is, some baby gates need to be drilled into a wall. Now, you can get certain baby gates that work without being screwed into a wall, instead they use pressure. However, these are not safe enough to be used at the top of staircases and are intended for use in doorways to restrict access.

If your landlord has prohibited drilling into the wall in the past, call them and have a chat, as they will likely change their mind when the safety of a child is concerned. If they are still hesitant, you can always look elsewhere.

Cabinets and Drawers

When your baby starts to crawl, their little fingers can get in everywhere. Which poses a real safety problem when it comes to cleaning products and sharp objects. To start, you can rearrange your cabinets, so that dangerous things are kept higher up. However, you may still want to add child safe locks to your cabinets and drawers.

For rented properties, you can easily get stick-on locks that are both secure and won’t damage the cabinets, which means your security deposit won’t be put at risk.

Flooring

Hardwood and tiled flooring can be slippy for young children, however, with rented properties it’s not always possible to change your flooring. Instead, you can invest in rugs with anti-slip backing, which will be both softer on feet and help stop falls.

Furniture

As pretty as our furniture can be, many items like coffee tables can have sharp corners that pose a risk to falling toddlers. While you might not be able to alter the furniture in your rental, you can take certain safety measures. Get yourself down to floor level and crawl around, this will help you to see what can pose risks for bumps. Then you can get some safety guards that will make these edges softer.

You should also look out for large pieces of furniture that pose the risk of toppling, such as storage cubes and bookcases. These should be secured to the wall with brackets – but you may have to contact your landlord here for permission. It would be unlikely for them to say no, particularly if they want to rent to other families in the future. However, if there is a problem, you can weigh these pieces of furniture down at the bottom, which will help keep them stable.