Child-Proofing a Condo

[Tigger]

My girlfriend's 2 year old nephew is coming to spend the weekend with us the first weekend in August. He can be a bit of a handful but nothing we can't handle. HOWEVER, this will be the first time that anyone under the age of 15 has been in my condo, so I'm looking for a little assistance with child-proofing the place.

Things that have already been discussed and/or dealt with....

Relocating all weapons & tools to a location he can't get into but is still reasonably accessible.
Safety covers for all electrical outlets (already done)
Moving all chemicals and cleaning agents out of his reach
Securing the sliding glass door so he can't get it open (already done)

I'm sure we're missing a ton of stuff..... SUGGESTIONS?

 

[tessaesque]

Anti-tip guards for heavy items (TVs, dressers, narrow tables/decorative stands, your stove, etc).
If you have any real plants in the house I'd do a quick google search to confirm whether or not they're poisonous when consumed. Many common plants can cause severe reaction, especially in young children.

 

[Tigger]

Anti-tip guards for heavy items (TVs, dressers, narrow tables/decorative stands, your stove, etc).
If you have any real plants in the house I'd do a quick google search to confirm whether or not they're poisonous when consumed. Many common plants can cause severe reaction, especially in young children.

Hadn't thought about the tip guards, though most of the large items we have are bookshelves, and they're pretty sturdy. We'll definitely look into that.

I have a true BLACK thumb, so there are no plants in the condo. Hell, I killed a CACTUS a couple years ago.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

You need to think of "your stuff" and not "babyproofing the house" - Removing or securing items you don't want to get broken or ruined: think 'breakable? Do I like this? Would this hurt if it fell on my head'. If it's breakable, knock-off-able, or ruinable odds are it's dangerous to the child = 2 birds with one stone if you just secure things with this thought process.

Don't worry too much about corners - kids have to learn . . . I have a coffee table and several end tables around without any corner protection . . . I thin kcaring about that is a waste . . . either leave the coffee table there or put it in another room / in a closet standing on it's end.

Just keep an eye on the little guy - close doors and put protective handles on doors you don't want him to open.
If you have animals = crate them up or put them in a room.
Make sure the floor is clean = no little pieces to eat (vacuum, sweep)
If electrical outlets are exposed put plugs in them or cover them over (placing furniture)

 

[Tigger]

You need to think of "your stuff" and not "babyproofing the house" - Removing or securing items you don't want to get broken or ruined: think 'breakable? Do I like this? Would this hurt if it fell on my head'. If it's breakable, knock-off-able, or ruinable odds are it's dangerous to the child = 2 birds with one stone if you just secure things with this thought process.

There isn't too much, but probably a couple things that need to be moved up higher so he can't get at them.

Don't worry too much about corners - kids have to learn . . . I have a coffee table and several end tables around without any corner protection . . . I thin kcaring about that is a waste . . . either leave the coffee table there or put it in another room / in a closet standing on it's end.

The coffee table is an old carpenter's tool box with a glass top on it and my heavy wood chess set on top of the glass. I think it'll be okay. He's taller than that is anyway.

Just keep an eye on the little guy - close doors and put protective handles on doors you don't want him to open.
If you have animals = crate them up or put them in a room.
Make sure the floor is clean = no little pieces to eat (vacuum, sweep)
If electrical outlets are exposed put plugs in them or cover them over (placing furniture)

Doors aren't a big issue. It's a relatively small condo. No animals either. We'll definitely vacuum and sweep. All unused electrical outlets already have safety covers in them.

 

[tessaesque]

I tried to find my paperwork from my Child Safety course (former education major), but apparently my college e-mail doesn't save sent messages for more than 90 days. That paperwork had a check list of home safety stuff on it, but damned if I can remember half of it.

I think you've hit on the key points, though.

 

[Manc Skipper]

When you say "childproof", do you want to keep the child out or in?

 

[tessaesque]

When you say "childproof", do you want to keep the child out or in?

Ahahahahahaha. Little baby-sized electric fence around the parameter...random toddler toys strewn about near IEDs.

 

[Tigger]

When you say "childproof", do you want to keep the child out or in?

Cute, Manc. Very cute. Basically we just need to keep him alive and in reasonable health for two and a half days (noontime on Friday until Sunday evening). We thought about just sticking him in the closet for that time, but realized the walls are thin enough that the neighbors would probably hear him yelling and call the cops. Just Kidding.

The family was all together yesterday and trying to figure out what to do with four of the kids while a variety of family members are out of town that weekend. When his titi (aunt) Jessi asked him if he wanted to stay with her, his response was.... "NO!! Stay with 'Cott (how he pronounces Scott) and Tisha (my girlfriend)! Stay with 'Cott and Tisha!" Everyone looked at the two of us, and we agreed to take him for the weekend, but not his three siblings. There's no space for more than one and I'd likely strangle one of the others if he were to stay with us.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Remove/secure: breakable valuables, toxic substances (cleaners, air freseheners and drugs), plastic bags/covers (any choking hazards) and pretty much all movable/throwable/swallowable things. Remote controls are a favorite thing to easily destroy.

Add/supply: quiet toys (with no projectiles) and other known favorite things that the child is used to playing with. These will likely be supplied without your asking, but take a careful inventory before distribution. ;-)

Limit access to only supervised areas: Close off/secure closets cabinets and any other "explorable" places that the child may access while not under your constant, watchful eye. Kids that age will try to explore places you didn't even know you had. If you have an electric screw driver, now is a good time to use it.

Enjoy his company, and welcome to the world of the "terrible two's". ;-)

 

[Tigger]

Remove/secure: breakable valuables, toxic substances (cleaners, air freseheners and drugs), plastic bags/covers (any choking hazards) and pretty much all movable/throwable/swallowable things.

That is mostly done at this point. There are a couple things that still need to be secured but most of it is done. Then again we don't have a lot of breakable things and the toxic stuff has all been put away in a high cabinet from the beginning.

Add/supply: quiet toys (with no projectiles) and other known favorite things that the child is used to playing with. These will likely be supplied without your asking, but take a careful inventory before distribution. ;-)

This is going to be one of our little concerns. He has very few toys of his own. At home he spends a lot of time outside, but with us there is really no outside for him to do much with. We're looking at taking a trip somewhere for part of the day on Saturday, but at least part of the time we'll be at home.

Limit access to only supervised areas: Close off/secure closets cabinets and any other "explorable" places that the child may access while not under your constant, watchful eye. Kids that age will try to explore places you didn't even know you had. If you have an electric screw driver, now is a good time to use it. ;-)

I need to put a latch on one of the closets but I think the others will be alright. My biggest concerns are the wires under the computer table and the fact that our main decoration in the living room is floor to ceiling book shelves with about 625 individual titles on them.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[joko104]

My girlfriend's 2 year old nephew is coming to spend the weekend with us the first weekend in August. He can be a bit of a handful but nothing we can't handle. HOWEVER, this will be the first time that anyone under the age of 15 has been in my condo, so I'm looking for a little assistance with child-proofing the place.

Things that have already been discussed and/or dealt with....

Relocating all weapons & tools to a location he can't get into but is still reasonably accessible.
Safety covers for all electrical outlets (already done)
Moving all chemicals and cleaning agents out of his reach
Securing the sliding glass door so he can't get it open (already done)

I'm sure we're missing a ton of stuff..... SUGGESTIONS?

You're living with your girlfriend and not married? What's with that?

How is it that you tell entirely different relationship stories every week?

 

[Tigger]

You're living with your girlfriend and not married? What's with that?

She spends the weekends with me most of the time. We're not actually living together full-time yet. That might become a reality at some point this fall or winter possibly.

It's not different stories, it's all parts of the same story. It's just been that kind of ride the last couple months. We've been together for just over 5 months and neither one of us has ever been happier than we are right now. Just some interesting things going on with her family these days.

 

[Jetboogieman]

At one point had twin 2 year olds living in the house so I know a bit.

Just two major things we had that perhaps because you live in a condo you'll need.

Two year olds can get anything open, even doors, don't know how they do it but they find a way.

We would put these baby proof lock sliders, kind of like those new police plastic sliding handcuffs (but they have a release button) over all the waist level cupboards and we had a mini sensor alarm you can buy from the hardware store, just stick one part on the door, one part on the frame, just makes an noise when the door is opened, put that on the front door (and basement door but i know you live in a condo).

Just my two cents.

 

[Tigger]

At one point had twin 2 year olds living in the house so I know a bit.

Just two major things we had that perhaps because you live in a condo you'll need.

Two year olds can get anything open, even doors, don't know how they do it but they find a way.

We would put these baby proof lock sliders, kind of like those new police plastic sliding handcuffs (but they have a release button) over all the waist level cupboards and we had a mini sensor alarm you can buy from the hardware store, just stick one part on the door, one part on the frame, just makes an noise when the door is opened, put that on the front door (and basement door but i know you live in a condo).

Just my two cents.

We'll definitely look at that. Thanks for the insight.

 

[samsmart]

My girlfriend's 2 year old nephew is coming to spend the weekend with us the first weekend in August. He can be a bit of a handful but nothing we can't handle. HOWEVER, this will be the first time that anyone under the age of 15 has been in my condo, so I'm looking for a little assistance with child-proofing the place.

Things that have already been discussed and/or dealt with....

Relocating all weapons & tools to a location he can't get into but is still reasonably accessible.
Safety covers for all electrical outlets (already done)
Moving all chemicals and cleaning agents out of his reach
Securing the sliding glass door so he can't get it open (already done)

I'm sure we're missing a ton of stuff..... SUGGESTIONS?

I don't know if this has been addressed in this thread, but it's not just certain things you need to put out of reach.

Rather, it's EVERYTHING.

Pens, pencils, coins, anything small enough for the kid to grab he will.

If I were you, I would look at the common area where your family will be hanging out, put every small item in a box, then lock that box up somewhere.

Also, remember to keep doors to bedrooms and bathrooms closed so he can't get in there.

In fact, if I were you, I would get those little plastic barriers that you can put in doorways so you can basically pen him up in a single area. You have NO idea how much trouble a toddler can get into, and the most innocuous the item the more trouble he can get into with it.