Q: So its time to baby proof, and we need stair gates, a play yard, soft surfaces and all the rest – have you found any eco and/or attractive choices for this? – Alysia R
Well, Alysia, we thought we’d turn this one over to friend of Cool Mom Picks and guru of all things baby and eco, Melissa Moog, founder of the Itsabelly Baby Concierge Service and author of Going Green with Baby.
Melissa: This is a great question and we know safety is on
top of mind for parents who want to protect their little ones from
danger. When it comes to baby proofing the eco-friendly way, don’t
clutter your home with too many gadgets and only purchase essential
items. We believe the only way to keep your baby completely safe is to
have a watchful eye on your child at all times. But you can choose
items made of non-toxic materials like sustainable wood where possible
and make sure products meet US safety standards–JPMA certification is
a plus.
To protect from falls off stairs, Cardinal Gates makes an attractive Clear Safety Gate (shown above) with white or black trim, and Safety 1st offers an affordable, eco-conscious baby gate (shown, right) made from bamboo and recycled plastic. If you’re interested in keeping baby in one area, Kidco’s steel play yard with pad is an alternative to the plastic.
Parents tend to forget that windows can be very dangerous so using a barrier like Kidco’s Mesh Window Guard
to protect from baby falling out is critical. If you have a fireplace
that will be used during the winter months, install a gate like Kidco’s Hearth Gate which has a non-toxic finish that resists heat.
There’s also a company that Cool Mom Picks and Itsabelly discovered at the ABC show last week called Rhoost, which makes stylish, eco-friendly babyproofing supplies. Right now they offer a nice-looking “Edge Om” table corner protector in four different colors, and a cool cabinet lock (shown, left) to keep medications, household cleaning products, or toiletries well out of reach.
