How to Baby-Proof Your Rental Apartment

When you have a newborn or toddler, one of the most important factors is how secure your child is in your home. While your baby was just an infant, you may not have given much attention to how safe your apartment is. This is because you used to carry your baby around. However, after four months, when your baby starts to crawl, you may have to look at it all from a different perspective. Sometimes quite literally (we’ll get to that in a bit). As your baby gets older, you should take some steps to keep your Toronto apartment safe and secure for them as they explore the world around them. So, to help you out, we compiled a list of tips on how to baby-proof your rental apartment.

Speak To The Property Owner Or Manager

When it comes to baby-proofing your rental apartment, you’ll need to talk to your property owner or manager. Since many baby proofing tactics involve drilling holes and hammering, you’ll probably need permission for that from either party. It’s best you let them know as soon as possible so you can start preparing arrangements for baby-proofing your Toronto apartment.

Also, double-check your tenancy agreement. If you make any changes, be sure you understand exactly what is expected of you. Is it in agreement, for example, that you must repair any damaged paint and fill in any holes in the walls you caused? Knowing this information before speaking with your property owner or manager is an excellent starting point. A good property manager or owner will honor the agreement and let you make any necessary changes.

If You’re Looking For A New Rental – Find The Safest Rental Apartment For Your Family

If you’re still looking for a home, the first step on your journey to baby-proofing your rental apartment should start when you’re still apartment hunting. When looking at a home, let the property owner or manager know if you have any safety concerns. Relocation experts at Number 1 Movers Canada suggest that when you visit the place before moving in, look out for any potential problems. For example, look out for some of these:

• Is there an open staircase that can’t be closed off by a gate? This should be an immediate deal-breaker since you definitely wouldn’t want your child to accidentally fall down a flight of stairs.
• Are there any lengthy wires or loops linked to the window coverings? These can cause strangulation and must be changed, cut, or anchored to the wall – it’s better to check with the property owner ahead of time to avoid an issue later.
• Is there any lead paint? Lead paint can be extremely harmful when absorbed by the body. It can cause brain damage, behavioral problems, and seizures. Even if there’s no lead paint, check for paint cracking or flaking, especially around stairwells, windows, and door frames. This is more common in apartments that haven’t been renovated in a while.

Examine Your Apartment From A Baby’s Perspective

After you move in, the second step is to look at your apartment from the perspective of a baby. Crawling about your apartment floor is one of the best methods to spot possible risks. You should look out for dog bowls, nails sticking out, visible cables, and other tiny objects you might not see while standing five or six feet from the ground. Everything you don’t want your child to touch or trip on you should remove. Because it’s a rental, you might need to contact the property manager or your property owner personally to get permission to remove something from the apartment.

Block Off Dangerous Parts Of Your Home

If you have stairs in your rental apartment, you’ll definitely need a baby gate. Since you’re just renting, you should look for a “pressure-mounted” gate. This implies the gate’s discs are screwed out, and the gate is held against the wall by the discs. However, if you need a baby gate at the top of the stairs, hardware-mounted might be your only choice. This is because a pressure-mounted gate can still be pushed through if your baby is stubborn enough. Before getting a hardware-mounted gate, speak with your property owner about it. If it’s a problem, offer to patch and repaint any holes left by the gate or pay for it to be done after you move out.

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Cover All Sharp Edges

Sharp-cornered furniture and clumsy babies learning to stand or walk are not a good mix. That’s why you should replace your square or rectangular coffee table with a round one. Or better yet, get rid of it entirely to give your infant more area to move around on the floor. Alternatively, you can buy safety guards to transform sharp corners into soft corners. They aren’t really fashionable, but it’s just something you’re going to have to get used to while your kids are still young.

Cover All Electrical Outlets

You should cover all floor-level electrical outlets until they are in use. That’s the only way to safely prevent your toddler from playing with the plugs. Moreover, the sliding panel outlet cover is one of the most popular outlet covers on the market. When the plug is pulled out, the cover slips over the outlet, safeguarding your infant from an exposed outlet.

If you’re moving into a new Toronto apartment, it’s best you do this before you move in all the furniture. That way, you’ll be sure all outlets have a cover, and if you ever move a piece of furniture, your outlets won’t be left unprotected. Moreover, consider hiring local movers so you could better focus on things like this instead of carrying heavy boxes and furniture. A moving company can for sure help with your Toronto-based relocation and take care of all the problems that may occur underway.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for all the ways to baby-proof your rental apartment, know that this isn’t a complete list. Based on your child’s behavior and habits, as well as your furniture, you may need to do more baby-proofing. For example, if your child has a habit of grabbing onto things on the table or shelves, you should remove all fragile items from those places. Moreover, if your TV is within their reach, you should probably make sure it is correctly mounted to the wall. By imagining yourself as an inquisitive baby, you may get ahead of the game and establish a baby-safe environment before your kid is hurt.