"There are online stores, catalogue companies, and retail stores that retail these products," says Mark Altman, a baby proofing expert and owner/founder of The Childproofer.
"We have always focused on carrying quality products. As a licensed contractor and someone who has run business for the last 18 years installing the products, you get a real sense of how the products are. Are they good or bad? There is a lot of garbage in the industry as well. A lot of products are just frankly a waste of money," says Altman.
So the first thing parents new to baby proofing should know if how to tell the garbage from the good stuff. You can hire a professional company like Altman's The Childproofer, or you can put in a little time and effort and educate yourself. One of the best places to go do that is online. Try the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov. There you can read handy brochures about baby proofing and find out what products have been recalled.
Once armed with that information, you can begin shopping for the products you have determined will best meet your family's needs in baby and child proofing your home.
Many big retailers like Walmart, K-Mart, Target and such, carry a good variety of child proofing products. Not all of it is equal, and that's why you need to do your homework before grabbing a shopping cart.
Or perhaps you'd rather shop in front of the computer screen. That's an option as well, as long as you know pretty accurately what product you need. There are loads of online companies that sell child safety products. Some are good, and others will be happy to sell you the garbage that Altman warns parents about. Knowing what products have been recalled, or even tested poorly in research by organizations like Consumer Reports will enable you to be a better consumer. Check out Consumer Reports website at www.consumerreports.org for recommendations.
Borrowing or buying used from consignment shops or garage sales is fine as long as you know what products have been recalled and what standards to look for in the product. Having proper instructions for installing certain products will be important as well. Don't overlook your friends who are experienced parents as resources of information and possibly products. They have probably tried a few along the way and will have their own recommendations. They may also be able to warn you about when certain safety devices were mastered by their own little ones, to help give you a heads-up about later safety concerns.
As children grow and develop their skills, you will most likely need to adapt your baby proofing equipment to their new level. You may be able to trade in old baby proofing product at a consignment shop for new or slightly used items that are now better suited to your growing household.
Where ever you find the products you need to baby proof your home, just be sure to stay on top of the latest recalls, warnings and safety advice to keep growing with your little ones.
