Planning for the arrival of your new baby is such an exciting experience. But because babyproofing your home is a hefty job, it requires a bit of forethought and strategy to pull it off successfully. If you’re a new parent, take a look at this quick guide on babyproofing so you can properly prepare your home for your bundle of joy.

Take inventory.

Before you start arranging furniture and decor, take a tour of your home to find potential potential hazards. Look for threats such as loose cables, dangling straps or cords, or choking hazards. Then, correct them to prevent your baby from being exposed to danger.

You can adhere non-slip mats or tapes under throw or area rugs to secure them to the ground. Instead of displaying your TV on a console, try mounting your flat-screen TV to a wall. This way, it doesn’t topple over if bumped into. And speaking of unsecured furniture, be sure to anchor heavy furnishings to the ground so they can’t fall over and onto your little one.

Install safety devices.

Another helpful hack for babyproofing your home is installing safety devices. For example, with a window guard, you can only open your windows by a few inches. This helps to reduce the risk of falling. And edge and corner guards can attach to tables to prevent young children from bumping into sharp table edges. Incorporating safety devices can provide peace of mind knowing that your baby is always safe from harm.

Lock away unsafe products.

Babies are naturally curious, so you can expect your new arrival to do a lot of exploring. To prevent them from accessing harmful items, be sure to store cleaning products, chemicals, medications, guns, knives, and teeny tiny choking hazards in an area where young children can’t reach.

Prepare your nursery.

To create a dreamy nursery for your baby, first, pick a room located near your bedroom so that you can quickly access your baby when they need you. Then, remove old or unnecessary furnishings to create more floor space to accommodate strollers, play zones, and activity mats.

Decorate.

To decorate your nursery, use non-toxic, low-VOC paints to turn boring, white walls into a colorful canvas for displaying washable artwork. You can even create a functional nursery by adding blackout curtains so your baby can sleep without distraction during the daytime.

Stock up.

Having a fully stocked nursery can make caring for your baby a whole lot easier. You can do this by stocking the nursery closet and dresser with baby clothing for late-night changes. If you have a side table, use it to stock important nursery supplies, such as bibs, burp cloths, and swaddle wraps for quick and easy access during feedings or changings.

And of course, every nursery needs a baby monitor. To keep watch over your little one when you’re not around, set up a baby monitor camera to capture the entire room so you can be alerted when your baby needs you.

Get organized.

When it comes to babyproofing your home, organization is key. When your space is neat and orderly, you can easily find what you need when you need it. To maintain an orderly space, use labels on containers and bins to keep track of your belongings. Hanging shelves or over-the-door storage solutions are another quick fix for storing baby socks, hats and other teeny, tiny apparel items that are easily lost.

For commonly used items such as blankets, burp rags, and extra diapers, make use of baskets or stackable bins. You can then place them atop a table or desk for easy access. And if you have a mini refrigerator, consider using it to store baby formula, food, and snacks for you and your body to refuel.