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some cheaper alternatives for child proofing! |
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by madchanny  (December 2006) (rank 41st) |
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so here i am, walking through bunnings (local hardware store) looking for all of the different kinds of locks to keep my little one out of the cupboards and drawers, i have quite a few in my house and all up, buying these child locks are a fortune! so other than
the drawer locks which only cost me $6 for a three pack, i have found a cheaper alternative for child proofing my son from opening the cupboards and getting into my glass cups and dinnerware...
For double cupboards, try looking in the plumbing isle for a rubber ring, they are flexible enough for an adult to slip over the knobs on your cupboard, if you cant find one of them, thick elastic bands can do the trick aswell! in my case, i use elastic bands and flexible cable ties,
For the cupboards with handles (no knobs) shoelaces tied in a bow can work wonders!
I have covered the power outlets i dont use with duct tape aswell as the switches the second my son realised he could amuse himself by flicking switches, for the ones i do use, i plug a multi-adapter and tape the switch on so he can't flick the TV on and off.
Something as simple as a sign on the toilet door just to remind people to keep the toilet door shut after use and to knock before entering, can help you save buying those toilet seat clamps.
And as for the fridge, distraction is the key, put big, colorful magnets on there for bubs to play with as that can give them something better to do than opening and closing a fridge door..(or in my case the freezer).
Take the knobs off your oven and stove tops and use one knob to turn them all up and down, then when you are done, put that one knob up and out of reach of bubs!
Now baby gates are a very expensive item! i definately could not afford one of them, luckily i know a welder and he welded me a gate to keep baby in the lounge room while i am cooking and cleaning, other ways of doing this is to go to your local hardware store with a measurement (from one side of the door to the other by about a meter high) and get a storeman to cut you some wood that size, buy two hinges and a lock and hey presto, you got a cheaper baby gate! you can even get creative and paint it or put a window on it like a cubby door! the choice is yours!
I hope these alternatives help the parents in need as these helped me without blowing the budget!
channy
Top practical ideas.Good one
