By: Sarah Landrum


When your brother or sister told you they were expecting a baby, you probably didn’t realize just how awesome life was about to get.

Sure — for your sibling, a baby means labor pains, sleepless nights, and toddler tantrums, but you have years of bonding with a child that you can hand back to mom and dad when the fussing starts!

Seriously, nieces and nephews bring love, joy and lot of fun to the lives of their lucky aunties.  You now have a reason to play on the jungle gym and head to the arcade again. One day, that little baby will run to you with open arms, and you heart may just burst from the cuteness of it all.

But adorable kids can also get into the same trouble at your house as they can at their own.  While parents spend many hours and lots of money baby-proofing their casa, have you thought about how your precious little niece or nephew might need the same protection at your home?

Here are five tips for aunties who want to child-proof their own homes to make them safe for the littlest loved ones.

Stairs, Stools, and Chairs

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the most common nonfatal unintentional injury for all children under the age of 14 is falling. Close and lock the door to the basement stairs, put up a gate at all staircases, and check your front and side doorsteps for debris or ice that might make falling more likely.

Falls don’t only happen on stairs, though. Children climb like little monkeys up onto chairs and barstools, and if left unsupervised, they could come crashing down. Give your place a once-over from toddler eye-level to see what might attract a little one’s ascent.

Windows Could Be a Pane 

Those of us without kids don’t give much thought to windows, other than to admire the natural light they let in and maybe to open them every once in a while for fresh air.

Make sure you get blocks put on your windows so they can’t be opened by little ones, especially if the windows are low to the ground. Any low-reaching window treatments should be monitored closely as well, and secured so a tug from a little one won’t cause them to fall.

A perennial favorite, bay windows are perfect for cuddling with little ones while reading a book or sitting with them as they admire the outdoors. But be sure to check the locks on this and every window to make sure they are secure – and always make sure your windows are properly installed and come with a warranty. Toddlers would love to climb up onto that window seat and have a look outside, so ensuring their safety is crucial.

While you’re checking the locks on your windows, also check your window shades for any dangling string cords used to adjust the height of the blinds.  These can become a choking hazard, so cut them short or wrap them up tightly, out of the reach of little hands.

Hot Potato

It goes without saying not to leave the stove or oven unattended around a toddler, but there are even more steps you can take to ensure safety.

Remove the knobs to the stovetop to make sure little hands don’t unintentionally turn on the gas. Also, if you have lovely towels draped over the oven handle, take them down. A strong tug on your hand towels from the little one in your life could result in the oven door opening onto him or her.

Vanity of Vanities

Your morning beauty routine may have an impact on the safety of your niece or nephew. Make sure the floor is completely dry after your shower to avoid slipping. Put a lock on the cabinet doors so medicines and cleaning agents aren’t accessible to little hands.

Survey your vanity and countertop, as well. Do you leave the lid to the toothpaste or the caps on your contact case off? Those both could turn into choking hazards. Does the hair dryer or straightener stay plugged in all day? Those could be easily dropped or turned on.

Free-Standing Furniture

You may plan to put your little nephew down for a nap in your guest room, which has only a bed and a dresser. What could go wrong there? Toddlers have a tendency to climb any and all furniture, so dressers, bookcases and baker’s racks should be anchored to the wall to ensure they don’t fall on top of a mobile niece or nephew.

You don’t have to be a DIY whiz to take this important baby-proofing step. YouTube has lots of how-to videos on securing furniture to the wall to ensure safety.

Soon-to-be parents take classes and read books about baby-proofing their homes. They’ve been given tons of information and know their child the best. So, also make a point to ask your sibling to walk through your home with you to point out anything you might have missed.

As a doting aunt, you play an important role in the life of your niece and nephew. Taking a few important precautionary steps will ensure that your time together isn’t spend worrying about what could go wrong, but instead on having fun and making lasting memories.


Sarah Landrum is an aunt of two, a freelance blogger and the founder of Punched Clocks, a blog to help you balance your life and career and find happiness along the way. Follow Sarah on social media for more great tips. You can tweet her @SarahLandrum

Photo: monkeybusinessimages
Published: April 13, 2016