Right from the moment you see your child come into this world, you will witness tremendous growth in every aspect, and it will be wonderful to see. Your little person will grow and learn new things, develop their unique personality, and run you ragged on a daily basis. There will be new challenges every step of the way, but you’ll cherish watching your son or daughter flourish as they get bigger.

During these growing moments, your child will move around quicker, disappear at a moment’s notice, and get into just about anything and everything. It will happen out of nowhere before you even realize it, so be prepared. Don’t believe for one second that your baby can’t open the door, or that heavy drawer, or pull something off of a high shelf. They will be able to do things that will impress and terrify you at the same time. All that being said, baby proofing the home is essential and must be done ASAP once your child is able to move around on their own. When should you start? Well, as quickly as you want. The sooner, the better.

Now, you don’t technically have to start right when your child is born. They won’t be moving around for a while. However, at the six-month mark, and maybe earlier for some, you want to make sure those doors aren’t easily opened, that those gates are in front of the stairs, and that the cabinets with harmful substances are locked up well. I advise not waiting until the kiddo is moving around already to start. It can take a while to child proof a home, so start as soon as you can. The good thing is you don’t have to do everything at once. Just start and make the proper improvements on a regular basis. You can also get a professional to do it for you, but that can get pricey. You can certainly get a consultation, research stuff on the internet, and also asks friends and family who have already been through the process.

Always remember that creating a safe environment for children is no substitute for a watchful eye. Always make sure someone is watching the kiddo closely because it takes less than a second for a tragedy to occur. I don’t say this to scare you, but to make you hyper-aware. Protect the innocent little people living with you. Do the best you can to safeguard your home and watch your child grow as a person.