But preparation is easier when it begins earlier.
The weeks before a baby's arrival provide an opportunity to examine the home carefully and make necessary changes without the additional demands of newborn care.
Baby-proofing is not about turning a house into an empty, joyless space.
It is about creating an environment in which a child can learn, move, and explore with fewer avoidable dangers.
One of the simplest techniques is the crawler's-eye-view test.
Adults can get down onto their hands and knees and move through the areas where a baby will eventually play.
From this lower perspective, the home looks surprisingly different.
Electrical cords may become more noticeable.
A loose object beneath a cabinet may suddenly appear accessible.
A tablecloth hanging over the edge of a dining table may become something a child could pull.
Furniture that seemed stable when viewed from above may have handles or drawers that invite climbing.
