From The Miron Blog

 

Here are some tips for how to go about baby-proofing your apartment:

 

Inspect from a baby’s vantage point - Yup, we mean you need to get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the apartment.  Babies will find things you didn't even know were on the floor or on lower shelves or cabinets. Loose change, wires, dog bowls - all fair game, so make sure to get everything that a baby might grab, choke on, get tangled in or break and put it above your chest level.  Make sure to cover all electrical outlets, shorten or cut any drapery or blind cords and install safety locks on all your cabinets, toilets and bathtub doors.  Babies a quick and they're wiley - be extra careful and move anything potentially dangerous to higher ground - better safe than sorry.

 

Cover up sharp edges - Sharp edges and wobbly toddlers are a less than ideal combo.  Coffee tables, dining tables, fire-place hearths - anything hard with a square corner needs foam safety guards.  They don't look great, but you will be glad to avoid the stitches that junior would have needed when he accidentally ran head first into the corner of that lovely end table your grandmother left you.

 

Tape down Area Rugs - Area rugs are great; they allow you to show off that beautiful wood floor while still adding a degree of warmth to any room...  Area rugs are also a "certain-to-trip" zone for newer walkers.  To keep little toes from getting caught under the edges of these rugs, tape them down.  Slip-proof mats underneath throw rugs will also help prevent them from sliding and reduce the risk of injury.

 

Baby Gates - Use them.  Thinking that simply closing a door will keep your toddler out is a lovely fantasy...  At the very least, get doorknob covers to stop your toddler from opning up doors.  We find, however, that the best way to keep kids in areas we want them to be and out of areas we don't want them to be is to invest in baby gates, 

 

Balcony Shields - If you are lucky enough to have a balcony in your NYC apartment, first, gloat a little, we know you want to...  Now, back to business, you will need to think about baby-proofing that too.  You should probably purchase a balcony or banister shield - they can be used indoors or outdoors and they are basically a thick plastic shield that covers the spaces between the posts of your balcony or banister to prevent little ones from getting caught in between them or falling through them.

 

Window Guards - Even an older child can fall through an open window.  No matter what floor your apartment is on, it is a good idea to install window guards on any window that might be opened. 

 

Miscellaneous - In addition to the above-mentioned steps, it is a good idea for every household with babies and young children to turn the water temperature down below 120 degrees Farenheit to avoid burns.  It is also advisable to keep a bottle of ipecac syrup (out of childrens' reach) in the event of a child ingesting a poison that requires vomiting (check with child;s doctor and/or poison control before administering).  A list of important phone numbers, such as that of the child's pediatrician, parents' cell phones etc. should be kept where any caregiver can access them quickly and easily. 

 

Get Professional Help - This list of steps that every household with a baby should take is a great start, but it may not be complete for every apartment.  If you have any questions about what you should do to baby-proof your New York City apartment, professional "baby-proofers" are easy to find.  Many of these services are quick and inexpensive.  Make sure to get references for any such service you use.