When you\u2019ve got a new baby on the way, it\u2019s\nnormal for you to be anxious about making your home as baby-proof as possible.\nThe problem is, when you have a rented property it\u2019s not always easy to both\nmake changes to your home and ensure your security deposit stays safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, before you start making lots of\nunnecessary changes to your rental, here are our top tips for making your\nrented home as baby-proof as possible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Windows <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Windows are one of the most dangerous\naspects of a home when it comes to babies and toddlers, so it\u2019s essential that\nyou take measures to keep your child away from them. Firstly, you can buy\nsafety locks for windows cheaply, which will stop kids from being able to open\nany windows. Plus, any furniture that can be climbed on should be kept away\nfrom windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also be careful of any cords\nnear a window, such as those you get on blinds. Although you might be able to\nchange your window coverings as you\u2019re renting, you can have these tied up away\nfrom their reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stairs and Doorways <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stairs and doorways pose some of the\ngreatest risks to a child, which means that baby gates are a must. The problem\nis, some baby gates need to be drilled into a wall. Now, you can get certain\nbaby gates that work without being screwed into a wall, instead they use\npressure. However, these are not safe enough to be used at the top of\nstaircases and are intended for use in doorways to restrict access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your landlord has prohibited drilling\ninto the wall in the past, call them and have a chat, as they will likely\nchange their mind when the safety of a child is concerned. If they are still\nhesitant, you can always look elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cabinets and Drawers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When your baby starts to crawl, their\nlittle fingers can get in everywhere. Which poses a real safety problem when it\ncomes to cleaning products and sharp objects. To start, you can rearrange your\ncabinets, so that dangerous things are kept higher up. However, you may still\nwant to add child safe locks to your cabinets and drawers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For rented properties, you can easily get\nstick-on locks that are both secure and won\u2019t damage the cabinets, which means\nyour security deposit won\u2019t be put at risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Flooring <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardwood and tiled flooring can be slippy\nfor young children, however, with rented properties it\u2019s not always possible to\nchange your flooring. Instead, you can invest in rugs with anti-slip backing,\nwhich will be both softer on feet and help stop falls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Furniture <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As pretty as our furniture can be, many\nitems like coffee tables can have sharp corners that pose a risk to falling\ntoddlers. While you might not be able to alter the furniture in your rental,\nyou can take certain safety measures. Get yourself down to floor level and\ncrawl around, this will help you to see what can pose risks for bumps. Then you\ncan get some safety guards that will make these edges softer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also look out for large pieces\nof furniture that pose the risk of toppling, such as storage cubes and\nbookcases. These should be secured to the wall with brackets \u2013 but you may have\nto contact your landlord here for permission. It would be unlikely for them to\nsay no, particularly if they want to rent to other families in the future.\nHowever, if there is a problem, you can weigh these pieces of furniture down at\nthe bottom, which will help keep them stable. <\/p>\n