Moving to Make Room for a New Baby

Congratulations on becoming a parent! Becoming a parent is a wonderful thing, but it can also be overwhelming and challenging. Many couples move into a bigger home in Vancouver to accommodate the newborn. As the little one grows, you will need to take some steps to baby-proof your new home. In this article, we would like to give you some directions on how to baby-proof your new Vancouver home.

Baby-proofing the stairway with baby gates

Baby gates are usually what comes to mind when we think about baby proofing. There are many types of gates available out there. There are pressure-mounted gates, hardware-mounted gates, retractable gate doors, walk-thru gates, and not to mention gates made of various materials. Which one should you get?

Two things to note when buying and installing gates:

1) never put pressure-mounted gates on top of the stairs, and

2) always make sure the gate door opens away from the stairs.

Babies are very unaware of their surroundings. A gate may just look like a regular wall to them. As a result they may lean on or push against the gate. Pressure-mounted gates are mounted by expandable rods pushing on the two opposite walls. If enough force is applied to these types of gates, they can be pushed through. This type of gate is not good for where there is a potential of falling (ie. stairs), but is very versatile everywhere else.

Pressure-mounted gates fit in various entryways, due to their adjustable width. In addition, there’s no need to drill any holes into your walls. If you keep the two aforementioned items in mind when you are baby-proofing your new home, the risk of your precious child getting hurt will be greatly reduced.

Baby-proofing the bedroom after you move

As you move into your new home with a new baby, a lot of attention goes to the nursery room. The décor, of course, is very important, but not as important as the safety of your baby’s room. When putting together a crib, many parents spend time placing stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets all around the baby. This is actually not advised, since this will increase the risk of suffocation or strangulation.

As your baby grows older, it will become very curious of its surroundings. Make sure mobiles and wires to baby monitors are out of their reach. Being careful to put together a nursery free of hazards is very important.

Baby-proofing the living room before you move

Moving items into the living room of your new house in Vancouver, you may already have an idea of what sort of danger this room can pose to your unsuspecting child. This is especially true when they are older and are able to grab things. Bookcases, for example, need some special attention. We recommended putting large heavy books at the bottom of the bookshelf to avoid the bookshelf from tipping over. It is also good to mount the bookshelf to the wall. Televisions and entertainment systems have the same potential problem. Take good care to install them in a sturdy way. If you are able, mounting televisions high up on the walls is a good idea to keep them out of reach.

Another major baby-proof measure is to cover up all the electrical outlets. Babies, as they wander and explore through the house, like to explore by sticking their fingers into things as well as sticking their finger into their mouths. The last thing you want to happen is to have your child’s wet fingers into an electrical socket. Plastic covers for outlets are available in many department or hardware stores.

Need to Move, Contact Ferguson Moving

If you’re moving to help your expanding family, give Ferguson a call. If you need to free up some space, we also have secure storage available as well. Contact us at 604-922-2212 or online today!