DIY rubber band locks and other jugaads to baby-proof your home

Parenthood begins long before the delivery date. You swap your daily coffee for decaf, forsake raw meat (goodbye, sushi), and your Friday night LIITs vanish for the foreseeable future. As you traverse through the months like a determined snail, there are multiple checklists to tick off. But trust us, choosing a cute animal onesie and the right musical crib mobile are the dilemmas you’ll miss while trying to keep your toddler from playing with electric sockets (which is a workout in itself).

If you’re an expectant parent, you might have already completed one round of baby-proofing in anticipation of your little one. But developmental milestones tend to keep you on your toes—at around seven months old, babies begin to crawl; by nine months, they start to stand up, and between 10 and 18 months, they begin to walk. With these new abilities, their curious minds and sense of wonder can pave the way for unexpected adventures. So, to help all you sleep-deprived parents, we’ve compiled a beginner’s guide to child-proofing your home (for babies aged 7-18 months) to ensure your little explorer can navigate their surroundings safely.

13 easy baby-proofing hacks for your home

Keep pillows and blankets away from the crib: Children typically transition to sleeping on a bed between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. So, while they’re still in the crib, avoid leaving pillows or blankets inside to prevent suffocation risks. The same applies to toys. Babies love to explore by putting things in their mouths, so leaving toys in the crib poses a choking hazard. Instead, you can store the toys in a basket near the crib for easy access.

DIY a decorative crib guard: Babies love to chew on everything, including the crib they’re sleeping in. They may try to bite the top edge of the crib, risking gum injuries or accidental swallowing. To prevent this, you can create a DIY decorative guard by cutting slits in an old blanket and tying it around the crib to cover the edges.

Glue down the furniture: Once babies begin to crawl, there’s no stopping them. They like to move swiftly, using all manner of surfaces to pull themselves up. To prevent any bumps and bruises from toppling vases or indoor planters (and to protect your precious souvenirs), glue your decor items to the surface of the table or shelf with museum putty which offers a mazboot jod.

Soften sharp corners with newspaper: Corners of beds and tables can feel like lurking lions, waiting to attack. If adults can end up with bruised knees and stubbed toes, your curious tot can injure themselves far more easily. While you can opt for corner protectors, we also have a desi jugaad. Roll some newspaper into a ball and securely tape it to the corners to create a soft cushion—sasta and tikau.

Tape sockets and gather cords: Given their affinity for sockets and wires, babies need to be kept far away from electronic equipment. You can buy a pack of socket protectors to lock all switchboards within their reach, or simply cover them with duct tape or Band-Aids. You can also bunch up all electric cords and conceal them behind furniture, or thread them through a decorative basket with a shut lid to keep them out of your baby’s reach.

Pad doors with foam tubes: While adults, too, can occasionally trap their fingers between doors, babies are much more vulnerable. The best way to protect their fingers is to invest in a foam tube, also called a pool noodle. Just cut it in half vertically and tape it to the edge of the door, creating a significant gap when the door is shut. Even if your baby accidentally shuts the door, their fingers will be safe.

Secure cabinet handles with hair ties: Another area you’ll want to baby-proof is cabinets within your toddler’s reach. This is because they can injure themselves on the sharp corners of the cabinet door or accidentally lock themselves in. The simplest way to prevent this is to take a sturdy hair tie and wrap it around both knobs or handles to create a lock, like in the video below.

Swap your cleaning products with child-safe alternatives: Traditional cleaning supplies like cleansers, detergents and hand-wash can contain substances that are toxic and harsh for babies. And since you can’t stop them from licking and sucking on surfaces, opt for natural, child-safe cleaners; companies like Mother Sparsh and Windmill have some suitable options.

Install tiny railing guards: For those of you with beautiful balconies, consider installing a railing guard to keep your toddler from reaching the actual railing. This prevents your child from putting their hands or heads through the railing bars, and protects them from potential injuries.

Put up baby gates: If you live in a multi-level home, stairs pose a significant fall risk for crawling babies. Install baby gates near the top of the staircase so your little one can’t crawl or tumble down the stairs. Baby gates can also be installed at the doors of rooms to keep your child from wandering off. This is also helpful if you have pets at home and don’t want them to disturb your sleeping baby.

Cling-wrap indoor plants: All of us have eaten mitti at some point in our childhood, and your child will possibly eat it too. But consuming mud and soil can lead to stomach and health issues. Fret not, you don’t need to separate from your potted plants. Just wrap a sheet of cling wrap to cover the planter and secure the top so the soil is out of reach. Leave a little gap near the trunk so you can still water the plant.

Get an anti-slip bathing seat: As your baby grows, bath time becomes a fun routine. While they love splashing and playing with water, bath-time also exposes babies to the risk of slipping, and even accidental drowning. To safeguard against these dangers, consider purchasing an anti-slip bath sling and a baby bathtub that drains water immediately, preventing water accumulation and drowning hazards.

Bolt your toilet seats shut: An open toilet bowl is another drowning hazard for toddlers if they fall in headfirst. The best way to prevent them from opening the lid is to secure it with a toilet seat lock that only the adults can open. This will keep them away from potential germ exposure and accidental falls.