What should i be thinking about before my baby starts crawling?

Safety: Crawling babies get into everything, and have no sense of fear. Babyproof!

Safety!: Closing off crawl paths to falls, electricity, cleaning supplies, medicines, suffocation and choking hazards, fall hazards, etc.

Safety proofing: Learning to crawl is a wonderful milestone, for the infants and for the parents. As your infant is getting ready to become mobile, your job is to protect them from the environment. Ensuring that the stairs are secured with a gate, that all dangerous chemicals and medications are not within their reach and that all sharp objects and heavy objects cannot hurt them are the most important steps.

Babyproof the home: Before a baby crawls at home, a parent should crawl around to be sure there are no baby hazards, no hanging cords and wires, no chokable items on the ground, etc. . . .. Vacuum often.

Babyproofing: Crawl around on the floor yourself, this will allow you to see what your baby sees. You can then protect against hazards.

Childproof the house: Be sure to start childproofing the house! i usually recommend doing this around 6 months of age before crawling starts. Crawl around the house to remove any dangerous objects, coins, or anything your baby can get into to cause harm. Install gates on stairs & place plugs on electrical outlets. Make sure you have the number to poison control. Safety first will make crawling less stressful to you!

Tummytime/childproof: Lots of observed "tummy time" helps baby push up and make stronger upper back and arm muscles, a prerequisite for both sitting up and crawling. Also, get down and crawl around at baby's level looking for temptations and trouble spots. Oh, yes, and pet food/water bowls and baby gaits/stairs.

Trouble!: We recommend you get down on your hands and knees to see what trouble you could get into as a baby. Cabinets should be locked, and medications, dangerous liquids, breakable objects should be placed high out of baby's reach. Look for cords and outlets, small objects baby could swallow, and secure large objects (like tvs) to the wall. Check the internet for a complete babyproofing checklist.