I don’t feel like I have a lot to give in the way of parenting, but I thought I would share this one. I noticed that many parents don’t do this, but it has worked out REALLY well for me.
We don’t baby proof. We never have. Only one vase has broken and only one tumble down the stairs has occurred – and both were my fault. We don’t put the ornaments 3 feet up on the Christmas Tree. We don’t use the stair gate. We don’t put those funky plastic door handle covers on the doors. We don’t put the child locks on the cupboards or drawers. We don’t cover up our electrical outlets. We leave everything the way it is when our children start crawling, then walking.
What we do instead, is have a sharp eye and teach. Of course that I have to constantly be on the lookout during the teaching time. Each time the baby goes for the stairs, we teach him/her “no.” Or we teach them how to crawl down the stairs. We allow them to get close to the cupboard under the sink and then teach them “no.” Lovingly and gently of course, but also firmly (yes, gently and firmly can happen at the same time).
Make no mistake: it is EXHAUSTING – but it doesn’t last long. Once they learn they know what to do and what not to do and they, from that point on, are great about not getting into the dog food, or pulling over a free standing book shelf on top of themselves. And when we go to a friend’s home, they know what to do and what not to do. Sometimes my friends freak out and want to put everything away or lock everything, but I tell them not to worry about it and it works out just fine.
Now, honestly, I don’t have any children that have been hugely difficult when they were younger. I would say they are typical, very active children. So this may not be a solution for everyone, but it sure worked for us.
-Pam C., Fort Wayne(ish), Indiana
