Video:How to Prepare Your House for a Baby
with Gretchen SiegchristAs seasoned parents will tell you, it's a good idea to prepare your house before bringing your new baby home from the hospital. See our tips for creating a safe home environment that will ease some of the worry of becoming a new parent.See Transcript
Transcript:How to Prepare Your House for a Baby
If you are bringing home a new baby soon, there are many things you should do to get your home ready.You won't need to childproof your cabinets for a few months, but there are still many things in the home that can be dangerous to an infant.
Check Smoke Detectors
First of all, make sure that you have functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed in your house.Adjust Water Heater
You should also turn down the water heater to a maximum temperature of 120 degrees. You will still be able to take a hot shower, but you will make sure that the water never gets so hot as to give your baby a scalding burn.Secure Carpets
You do not want to slip and fall while you are walking around holding your baby, so make sure that any carpets in your house have a sticky backing in hold them in place.Write Down Emergency Phone Numbers
If you need help with your baby, you will want to be able to call the doctor or a support person right away. Write down all of the important phone numbers and leave them next to the phone so you can find them quickly in an emergency.These tips should make your home safe for your newborn---until she starts moving around on her own, that is. Then you will have to go through a whole series of other safety precautions, but that is something for another video!
About videos are made available on an "as is" basis, subject to the User Agreement.