Author: Erin Sluka

Babies are certainly delightful but they can create havoc in the house as soon as they start walking or crawling. In all our houses, the living room is the one where the family will usually spend most of their time. If you are someone who likes to chill in front of the television with an eye on your child, you are not alone. It is imperative that any room the child spends most time in will be the room you will have to make the safest. It is important for most parents to babyproof their living room either by modifying the current layout or redecorating it. 

It is not necessary to redecorate the entire room, you can place a coffee table or a rug and get babyproofing in the mix. If you want to give the living room a new look while keeping the safety of your child in mind, here are a few tips to help you child proof your living room. 

1.  Make the room softer

Babies fall often and the falls are not avoidable, but where and how the baby falls is on you. It is important to identify areas in the living room that can be softened up. Start with a soft rug as it will cushion the fall against the hard floor and also double as a play mat. Try to choose a dark color that will hide the sticky prints and the use of a rug pad can prevent the rug from sliding. Metal coffee tables are dangerous for toddlers but if you have one at home, you can place it in a different room for the time being. If you want to redecorate the room, you can add an ottoman as it is an ideal babyproof center table anyone can ask for.

2.  Buy furniture anchors

If you are looking for new furnishing, you can consider investing in furniture anchors. Your little one will always be pushing and pulling the objects and you do not want them to fall on your child. Furniture anchors can save lives. They consist of a strap and two anchor points. It keeps the furniture intact and can be installed on any furniture that can fall on your child.

3.  Go on the knees

The best way to identify unsafe spots in your home is to get down on the knees and into the perspective of the child. What might seem like a safe place to you could become a death trap for the baby. You must get down on the knees and examine the furniture from the perspective of your child. Try to look at hard pointed edges and covers that can harm your little one in case of a fall. Identify the pieces that could catch the clothes of your child. You also need to take a look at the footholds of the furniture. If you have to, crawl around the entire room and identify the hazardous areas. Being a parent isn’t as easy as it may look. 

4.  Ease and convenience

When you are a parent, you will always have to look for ways to remove the dirt and spots from the furniture. Eventually, you will not be surprised at finding such spots. If you are investing in new furniture, you need to be mindful and avoid choosing materials like suede or linen as it will cause a lot of grief and trouble. Functional is always better than fancy. Even if it looks good, but is not helping babyproof the living area, give it a miss. 

5.  Remove the trinkets

Many families like a minimalist interior design but there are also many who have many decorations in every corner of their home. You should reconsider your thoughts about trinkets and decorations when there is a baby in the house. Any decoration will draw the attention of your child and you do not want your child scaling furniture only to reach the flower vase on the table. Additionally, decorations are not designed for play and could be extremely harmful. They are small in size and could be a choking hazard for the little one. It could also hurt your child if they fall on a decoration. Hence, it is best to remove all the decorations and put them away until your child is older. 

Coffee tables, side tables as well as some couches have sharp corners and they are not an issue on their own but when a baby is trying to walk, they can add to the danger. The best way to stop an injury and fall is to soften the edges and corners with padding. It will not only protect the corners but also works on the edges. If you do not want your baby to reach the decoration, put it away. 

The elder members of our society have great amounts of wisdom and experience to share with the rest of the world. Unfortunately, in many ways, the senior population has gradually been forgotten and isn’t being respected in the ways that are deserved. With over 13% of the world’s population now over the age of 65, the wasted resource of elder knowledge has a great impact on future generations.

As technology continues to replace human contact, many senior family members are lost in the shuffle of busy lives. Many family members feel that a simple weekly telephone call or a text message is sufficient in showing care and concern for the elders of their family. In reality, the loss of physical contact and the showing of respect for the experience and knowledge of our seniors has resulted in volumes of lost knowledge.

Some cultures still revere their elder generations and ensure that they are well cared for. Western culture in places like New York or South Carolina seems to take the modern approach that seniors are a problem to be dealt with at arm’s length. Many are moved to retirement homes away from their family and friends, making them vulnerable to loneliness, depression, and even abuse. If you know a family member that is struggling in a nursing home, you may want to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer in SC for help.

Respecting and honoring our elders should be the cornerstone of our family values. The experience, vitality, and knowledge that they bring into our lives should be cherished. Let’s look at a few important ways that we can all honor and respect our elders.

Spend Time With Them

Seniors are one of the largest sectors of the population that are dealing with loneliness and depression. With so much time on their hands following retirement, there are many hours in the day that are spent on their own. A vibrant social calendar is one of the many ways that seniors can stay engaged and feel purposeful. Family members should make it a priority to make regular in-person visits to their elders. Take the time to listen to their stories and share experiences.

Prioritize Safety & Independence

In addition to emotional support and regular visits, ensuring the physical safety of our elders is another meaningful way to show respect. As many seniors face health risks such as falls or sudden medical emergencies, providing them with tools that support independence while ensuring prompt assistance can be life-saving. A home medical alert for elderly individuals is a simple yet powerful solution that allows them to get immediate help at the press of a button. Installing such a system naturally demonstrates your care and consideration for their well-being, allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings while still feeling secure and supported.

Be Polite

Our elders come from another time when manners and polite behavior were valued as a sign of respect. When you visit with your elder family members, always speak in a polite manner to show them that you respect their values and experience. Listen to their words with empathy and attention, their knowledge and experience will be beneficial to you. 

Ask for Advice

The seniors in your family have a lifetime of experiences and knowledge to share. While you may not believe your older family members could relate to a modern problem that you are having, you may be surprised at the insight that they can provide. Everyone wants to feel like their opinion is respected and that they have a purpose, so the next time you are struggling with a problem, try getting advice from your senior family member.

Ask About Heritage

The stories that are bound in the memories of our elders hold valuable insight and knowledge. When visiting with an elder, take the time to ask them about their history, the family traditions that have been lost, or their unique experiences. Exploring your own family history through the stories of your elders can give you a deeper understanding of your family dynamics and bring you closer together. 

Our elders won’t be around forever for us to enjoy and cherish. If you are lucky enough to have a senior family member, take advantage of the time you have to learn more about their lives, discover interesting bits of your family history and gain a deeper understanding of your own origins. Our elders deserve our respect, love and to be honored for their life experiences.