Somewhere in between sorting through the gifts and picking out the most drool-worthy outfits (pun-intended!), it’s important to find time to baby-proof your home. Read on for a list of safety tips and things to remember when making sure your house is not only cute, but comfortable and safe for your new bundle of joy.
1. Secure Furniture: Babies, toddlers — kids love to climb, and any piece of furniture is fair game. Secure TVs, dressers and bookshelves to the wall or with straps to prevent your kids from inadvertently pulling them down. (via Baby List)
2. Turn Down the Heat ($11): First, check out your water heater, and set it to 120 degrees fahrenheit — any higher and you run the risk of your child receiving burns. You can also getting a handy tub thermometer like this one.
3. Put Away the Cleaning Supplies: Even though you’ve got locks and guards on all the cabinets and drawers, it’s still a good a idea to keep hazardous materials like cleaning supplies on high shelves. (via Kids in the House)
4. Gate the Stairs ($56): It’s a given, but stair guards should be put up on the top and bottom of each flight. Try to avoid the pressure control types, as kids are often stronger than you think and can pull those down.
5. Lock Cabinets and Doors ($13): Yes, they may be a little bit of a pain, but it’s vital to keep cabinets, cupboards, drawers and shelves locked. The good news is that there are a ton of options available, including magnetic versions.
6. Kitchen Safety: Knob covers prevent any accidental ignitions, and appliances should be kept off the counters and either put up high or locked away in cabinets to avoid being pulled down and causing injury. (via It’s a Baby)
7. Electricity Protection: Wall sockets are on eye-level with babies and look inviting (hey, let’s see what this is!), so make sure to put covers on all of them. And don’t forget to cover or put away cables and extension cords, too. (via Shock Blocker)
8. Lock the Toilet: They may look silly, but toilet clasps protect your kids from getting into trouble and your valuables from being flushed. (via London Mums)
9. Cover Sharp Edges ($7): There are furniture and corner guards in all types of materials and colors, which is handy since pretty much every straight edge should be protected to avoid cuts and bumps.
What tips do you have for child-proofing your home? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.