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Grex Parenting Item 60: Help preventing house-damage by visiting baby?
Entered by popcorn on Thu Dec 22 14:39:51 UTC 1994:

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9 responses total.

#1 of 9 by chelsea on Fri Dec 23 01:50:45 1994:

Mom is going to have to keep a close eye on the child, there is 
no other way.  During the sleeping hours I'd beg, borrow, or steal
a playpen to keep the baby confined (and safe).  I'd also borrow a
gate (the expand to fit without permanent installation needed type)
to put at the top of your stairwell.  And if you need a few toys
appropriate for that age I have a few that would help for a little
while. ;-)

#2 of 9 by simcha on Fri Dec 23 14:59:30 1994:

It all depends on what you know about the Mom and her personality.
If she is generally laissez-faire about life, you may have cause
to worry; if she is a meticulous type, her idea of watching may
be just fine to keep you comfortable.

If you have old pots and pans, wooden spoons, measuring 
cups and plastic storage containers, you have all the 
toys a 19-month old needs.

Contrary to Mary (sorry) I strongly recommend against
the gate at the top of the stairs.  If it isn't securely
screwed into the wall there, a 19-month old has enough 
strength or body weight to knock the gate over and fall down the
steps, especially if angry about where she is.

When Mom is watching the baby, your greatest risk might be
damage from rubbing a runny nose along the upholstery, dirty 
hands, etc.  Specify furniture that's off limits, or rooms, and
be very honest about what you really care about "She can 
play in there after she wshes hands because I can't clean it 
easily."

I have 3, youngest is now 2.  My folks have irreplaceable
antiques and artifacts and insist I learned the power of NO!
so my kids should too.  They refuse to baby-proof  at all.
I get tense occasionally (runny nose near the silk upholstery)
but we have survive a decad with no serious damage.

Look around your home and ask yourself what is irreplaceable
as opposed to costly but replaceable (e.g., computer or VCR).
If anything is absolutely irreplaceable, remove it if you can.
Otherwise, just take lots of deep breaths.

#3 of 9 by kami on Sat Dec 24 01:09:24 1994:

I think I have a spare gate, I'm not sure.  I know I have a seat that 
clips to the table for meals and a porta-crib which I may or may not
need that night.  And since we'll probably stop by your place earlier
in the evening (we are still welcome?), the boys and I can help keep
the little critter happy until bedtime.  Good luck!  It'll help
you remember why you aren't in any hurry to have kids of your own...<g>

Cheers!
Kami

#4 of 9 by gracel on Wed Dec 28 04:18:17 1994:

If it is feasible (I haven't been in your "new" place, so I don't have
any idea) *really* babyproof some space, say somewhere that didn't 
have much books & big-people-toys in it to begin with, so you don't 
have to be on tenterhooks *every* minute.

#5 of 9 by popcorn on Sat Dec 31 08:57:05 1994:

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#6 of 9 by davel on Sat Dec 31 14:46:02 1994:

A bigger place just gets stuffed with more unsuitable junk.  Take my word
for it.

#7 of 9 by popcorn on Mon Jan 2 01:38:56 1995:

This response has been erased.

#8 of 9 by kami on Mon Jan 2 02:01:43 1995:

yea!!!  Oh, and you have great kid-toys.  Timothy had a great time.

#9 of 9 by gracel on Mon Jan 2 03:16:35 1995:

Indeed, the baby's personality and habits are as important as the
caregiver's.  They come in all kinds, from the laid-back individuals
(like our oldest used to be most of the time) to hurricanes-in-diapers.

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