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My twins recently turned nine months and I am thrilled, especially because I keep counting their age almost every day. With each passing day come changes, irreversible milestones that are both exciting and terrifying.  Think of that first time when they attempted to sit down at four months and wouldn’t stop tipping over, or that first time when they started rolling over.

Now at 9 months my twins won’t stop moving. They want to stand holding on to furniture or anything that may provide support for that matter, they want to reach out and grab everything, regardless of what it is. Most shocking though, they are no longer scared of getting off the bed during bath times. I still can’t wrap my head around how I found my daughter under the bed the other day, or how my son wound up standing on his own, holding on to his cot, all the while laughing at my sight.

As a first time mum all these changes can catch you by surprise. For this reason it is always important to be prepared, so as to avoid any accidents.

Here are a few ways to child proof your home.

Ensure Furniture will not fall and land on your toddler. You can move furniture around to give them more space.

When they start getting up on their hands it is time to remove those hanging toys in their crib. Also ensure that the crib is a distant from any windows or any other furniture that they might try to climb on. The drop side of crib should also be kept up and locked when you’re not in the room.

Avoid leaving your baby alone on beds, sofas, high chairs or anywhere else they could fall off. At this age, I find it safer putting them on the floor on a safe area prepared especially for them.

Make sure there are no chocking hazards around their space. Additionally, keep sharp objects and any breakables, or any other dangerous objects far from their reach.

Children love to explore. Keep electric appliances unplugged and out of reach. Install safe plates on electricity outlets. Conceal wires using wire guards and keep them away from any electric sources altogether.

If you have stairs in your house, it is probably time you started thinking of installing a safety gate at the top otherwise they might get off their bedroom and decide to wander down stairs. You should also control access to unsafe areas by investing in door locks or setting up safety gates.

Even if you feel like you’ve done a thorough job child proofing your home, you’ve probably missed one thing, and you can also not underestimate your child’s intelligence and understanding of things. Always ensure that either you or someone you trust is watching over your child.