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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Baby Proof

You know when you are pregnant with your first child you go though the motions of baby proofing your home because we all know that your 3 week old baby is going to stick his finger in the electrical outlet, and be opening all the cupboard doors. But baby proofing should really be called toddler proofing. And because I know I'm not the only one I'm going to share my (what I think is practical) toddler proofing to keeping our home safe.

First we have the stool in the sink. The stool is used so the boys can reach the sink to wash their hands, but Tim likes to just play in the water and play with the tooth brushes, and tooth paste. Making a huge mess. So the less he can reach the less mess we have (at least with the tooth paste)

Next we have the lock at the top of the door to lock the kids out... uh, I mean to lock the door so the kids can't get out.
I don't need a fancy door stop or anything. I just throw a blanket over the top of the door to keep any fingers from getting smashed.
So Tim really likes to play with water. So the easy way to fix that is to take the handle off. Tim is quite clever... I opened the plug one night after his bath. Well Tim didn't want to get out so he closed the plug and turned the water back on. Then the next morning I woke up to Tim turning the bath water on and off. Quick fix... take the handle off.
Baby gates can get expensive so next best option.... Just screw a board into the wall.
James has an odd habit. After he pees, he likes to put some toilet paper in the toilet... still attached to the roll. He'll flush the toilet and watch the paper spin off the roll. So easy fix to that is to just take it off the dispenser. The joys of boys and the fascination with the bathroom. (So if ever you come to my house (and you're a girl) you'll have to grab a roll as you go into the bathroom)
After our old TV broke we got a new one. One day we were all playing and a toy was thrown and hit the TV, the next day Steve came home with a large piece of plexi glass to put in front of it. I have to say... people laughed... oh, they did. Yeah until our neighbor saved up... bought a new TV and three days later their son walked by with a broom and hit there TV, yeah they weren't laughing at our plexi glass after that.
There you go, there is my "real world" toddler proofing.

56 comments:

Lucy said...

I'm so impressed. You need to write a book on this topic! :)

And I might just try the toilet paper trick. Sounds super cool!

Ariella said...

That is real world. I'm going to have to try the towel over the door thing. My boys are constantly slamming doors! Rar!

I can see Adam doing the plexi glass thing too. It's a good thing we still have an old tv.

Connie said...

Wow- really good ideas! I like the homemade baby gate.

Christine Rowley said...

I had to laugh. For some reason I always think that everyone else's kids are perfect. And mine are the only little trouble-makers out there. I've had 2 water loving toddlers. Just last week, the hose outside was on again....

. said...

You are hillarious! I laugh everytime I read your blog. Thanks for the tips...Rustie is giving me a run for my money :)These will help.

sinika said...

See what I have to look forward to? Ha! Ha!

Camie said...

Hey whatever works! And it beats spending hundreds of dollars on stor bought stuff!

Amy said...

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Right? Some day it will be nice to have everything the way WE want them and not how they have to be for safety or how our kids want them to be.

Nielson Family said...

What a great post. I love reading all of your fun tricks..I am glad that Idon't have runners you have your hands full.
The Nielson Family in Utah.

Rachel said...

lol! That is so GREAT! I've had to come up with a few things of my own as well, it's crazy what you do to protect your home and your kids once they come. :) Now if anyone has any suggestions of baby proofing Brighton so Carson doesn't hit her...I'm listening!

Karen & Gerard Zemek said...

These are great ideas. I like putting the stool in the sink and guarding your TV with plexiglass!

Congrats on your SITS day!

Elizabeth D. said...

Those are some great ideas. My husband has been considering the whole plexi bit with our TV, I'll have to forward this to him! Happy SITS day to you!

leigh hewett said...

I'm impressed. Supernanny would even be impressed. I'm using some of these clever ideas!

XO
Leigh

alessandra said...

This is totally hilarious... and clever.
Stopped from SITS.

said...

Funny, practical and clever! Love it!

Congrats on your SITS day!

Jessica Nunemaker said...

I never have heard of the plexiglass idea! I'm sure it might look funny, but when son #2 is past the whole "I'm a cute blob" phase, that might not be such a bad idea!

Caroline said...

Very impressive! I need to baby-proof things better over here!

Jen said...

This is the best baby proofing EVER!

Jenn said...

I love it! I bet my Mom wishes she thought of plexiglass when my borther was little.

Christina said...

Wow, this was too funny. I can't imagine what it must be like to have three tiny troublemakers staying up at night devising the next day's havoc... but it seems like you're up for the challenge. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Stool in sink. Classic shot! We have a pretty heavy wood bench they step up on and the little girl isn't strong enough to pull or push it. But she still gets her wreck the bathroom fix by just hopping up on the toilet and using her long arms to reach whatever is her fancy at the moment. All boys...what I wanted for the longest time. Bet it's tons of fun...and sticky! ;o)

My best, Lynn

Anonymous said...

Stool in sink. Classic shot! We have a pretty heavy wood bench they step up on and the little girl isn't strong enough to pull or push it. But she still gets her wreck the bathroom fix by just hopping up on the toilet and using her long arms to reach whatever is her fancy at the moment. All boys...what I wanted for the longest time. Bet it's tons of fun...and sticky! ;o)

My best, Lynn

Melissa Papaj Photography said...

Love the towel over the door! thanks for sharing!

Michelle said...

oh man, i was just thinking how much easier it would be to have a house full of boys...maybe not?

Sherri said...

Oh, you are GOOD! I'm not sure which one I like better...the board screwed on the door or the plexi glass:)

Brandy said...

I LOVE it! Plexiglass has got to be easier that chasing them down each time.

Annie said...

ha! this is great. I am JUST learning (the hard way)...I have a one year old boy who just started walking...and who just found out the toilet is the coolest toy ever!

looks like I have lots to look forward to!!

Happy SITS day :)

Holly @ Domestic Dork said...

I like the plexi glass and towel tricks.

Anonymous said...

Luckily, or tv is up high on the wall, so my little one can't do any damage. But before it went up on the wall we had it setting close to the ground and someone managed to put two huge scratches on it. I'd rather protect them and our things for a few years and deal with things being rigged then the oppostie!

Jenn Erickson said...

You guys are so creative! Love it! Ah yes, the whole roll of toilet paper in the bowl routine...that brings back memories!

Anonymous said...

I like all these ideas, my favorite one was just screwing a board across the doorway. Obviously, it's low enough for mom and dad to just step over. Brilliant!

Kristin @ Meanbean said...

these are all great, practical ideas! I especially love the towel over the door, so simple to keep fingers safe :)

Miranda said...

Our 8.5 month old is getting mobile! I'll be taking a few hints from you!

Happy FB day!

Jess said...

Very cleaver toddler proofing!

Laura said...

Very inventive stuff. I had two girls so my toddler proofing didn't have to cover so much territory.

Jessica said...

very creative! We have a 17mo old son who can bypass every baby proofing effort we have made. I've just given up on keep my things safe as long as I can keep an eye on him to make sure he is generally safe I guess we'll survive.

Happy SITS day!

Lisa said...

I'm very impressed by your creativity1 I had two boys 15 months apart. It was quite the adventure. Happy SITS day!

Katie said...

LOL! Now that's what I call "using what you have"! The blanket over the door is genius! And that board as a baby gate is hilarious! :)

gina said...

Oh that's funny! My daughters took hold of the toilet paper and then walked through the house with it. We never had a broken tv but the slobber and handprints (and maybe a few crayon marks) weren't fun to clean daily!! Come to think of it... I don't miss toddlerhood at all. >sniff, sniff< ;)

Marie said...

Hilarious! I can totally see my kiddo doing the toilet paper thing!

Mel at Adventures of Mel said...

That is awesome! And creative....I actually like the plexi glass thing; I can't tell you how many times light sabers or broomsticks have hit our tv.

Angelia said...

I love the towel over the door. Genius!! You have being a mom down. (of boys)

Cathy said...

Very creative. Don't the kids just climb over or under that board though?

Anonymous said...

LOL! I love your inventive baby proofing methods! And seriously, what is it with boys and the bathroom. My son could play in there all day!

shortmama said...

My youngest needs some clever toddler proofing!! She has figured out how to unlock several different kinds of child locks on the cabinets!

Brandi said...

Oh my goodness, I am so with you! I have 3 boys too and they can figure out ways to make messes and destroy things that I've never dreamed of. I love your towel over the door idea... I'm going to do that now! :)

Enthusiastic Bookworm said...

Oh my I am LMAO and taking notes. My son is 6 months old, but from his personaility he will be a wild boy. I love all your ideas!

karen

Heather said...

Those are some genius ideas! I especially like the towel over the door.

Happy SITS day.

Dawn said...

Not sure how I have made it 6 years with 2 boys(without a broken tv) without your ingenius ideas~Love 'em!

Happy SITS day!

AdriansCrazyLife said...

I think this is very clever. I call these Disneyland Ideas and I have a whole post about them on my blog.

I call them Disneyland Ideas because when you go to Disneyland, they never have signs saying Keep off the grass, or whatever. Instead, they just make it inconvenient or uncomfortable to do the things they don't want you to do, and that is exactly what you are doing with these clever childproofing ideas. That's how you teach a dog a new trick - ya gotta be smarter than the dog!

Kallay said...

LOL! As goofy as these are, they are so practical! And you saved money! Way to go!!! And your son with the fascination with the toilet is *so* my niece. Oh my gosh, my sister has her hands full.

Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord said...

LOVED these ideas --- I have cousins with boys who could relate and probably gain some great ideas!
I'm going to send your link to one now. Awesome stuff!

Fallon said...

I like the plexi-glass idea. Brilliant! You're quite an ingenious mother.

Michelle said...

OH thank GOD my wee ones aren't the only one who toss the toilet paper into the toilet without tearing it off first. I hate that. :)

Marie said...

Wow having no kids myself I had no idea the trouble they can cause. You are very creative though with your child proofing skills. ;)

SuperMomTested said...

Great insight and creative solutions! I am enjoying nosing around your sight.

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