Four Renovations Expectant Parents Should Consider

If you are expecting a baby, you may want to make your home safe and ready for your baby with some home renovations. In addition to the usual round of childproofing measures, there are renovations to consider. Take a look at these ideas:

1. Lead Mitigation

If you live in an older home, you may have lead lurking in the paint of your home. Buy a lead testing kit from the hardware store and check old paint, especially near window sills. If you find lead, talk with a lead mitigator about taking care of it. This can involve anything from painting over lead to replacing windows. Toddlers and babies are especially at risk because of their need to explore things with their mouths when young.

Similarly, if you have any asbestos flooring or exposed asbestos fibres, you may want to get rid of those items with the help of a professional. When asbestos fibres are inhaled, it can cause health problems for your baby as well as for anyone else in your family.

2. Windows

Unfortunately, falls from windows are on the rise throughout Australia. To protect your baby, you may want to consider talking with a renovation expert about modifying your windows. Some changes you may want to consider include placing a barrier device in front of the window, putting in screens that cannot be pushed out, or converting the windows into ones that open from the top. Similarly, if you have a balcony, you want to modify the door leading to it so that it a toddler or baby cannot push it open.

3. GFCI Outlets

GFCI outlets or ground fault circuit interrupter outlets are fitted with a special safety feature that cuts off the power if it senses uneven levels of power. When an outlet is running safely, it has a consistent amount of power on both sides. However, if it is bleeding power in one direction, that might mean that the power is surging into a person and electrocuting them. In most cases, homes have GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens and outside. To ensure your child is as safe as possible, you may want to replace all the outlets in your home with ones with GFCIs.

4. Attics and Basements

Eventually, your little baby will grow into a child who needs room to play. If you don't have space in your existing home for a playroom, you may want to renovate your attic or basement into a playroom. Alternatively, if you want to convert your home office into a nursery, you can do that and then move the home office to your newly renovated attic or basement.