Babyproofing your vacations

By Whitney

by Whitney

It was at Thanksgiving last year when I realized that folks without kids have no idea what sort of hazardous behavior we are dealing with. Might my child remove a metal barrette from her hair and stick it in the electrical outlet? Yes, she might. I mean she dips apples in ketchup if they are given to her on the same plate, so why not?

My in-laws’ house has numerous electrical outlets, as does most new construction. The designated toy area during our visit had an exposed outlet just inches above the basket of toys that had thoughtfully been set out for the kids. My husband and I laughed, realizing that to us it appeared almost comical to put toys near the outlet, but to the grandparents, the outlet was invisible, just part of their wall that they never think about.

If you’re visiting someone who doesn’t have little kids or staying in a hotel, you’re likely to encounter an environment that has not been studied with the eyes of an expert – a toddler’s parent.

Debbie Dubrow, a travel blogger and mother of three, has posted a step-by-step guide to babyproofing a hotel room. She suggests bringing a roll of blue painter’s tape, pipe cleaners or twist ties, and a roll of duct tape with you to use as DIY baby proofing supplies. “You can tape over almost anything that you think is a risk. Use the duct tape on unpainted surfaces, e.g., power outlets, and blue tape on things that seem more fragile.”

babyproofing

When you arrive, simply get down on the floor at your toddler’s level and observe all the temptations. Use pipe cleaners to tie cords out of the way. Tape the desk drawers shut. Notice any floor lamps that can be easily tipped over and move them behind furniture.

Read the rest of Debbie’s tips here.

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