If you have a toddler in your home then you know they are in absolutely everything. The same can be said of babies who will quickly learn to crawl and find all of the places you don’t want them to. This is why babyproofing is such a crucial part of having children. From protecting them from dangers to offering yourself some peace of mind, babyproofing is a must for every household with young children. Unfortunately, it can be pretty expensive too, which might leave your tight budget in a bind. Luckily, there’s a few ways you can DIY your own babyproofing techniques to help keep your budget low.

1. Cabinets
When it comes to babyproofing your cabinets, you may begin to feel like you have cabinets all over your house. Traditional methods of babyproofing can involve screwing in devices into each cabinet, which takes forever and can destroy your security deposit if you’re renting. Instead of doing this, try an assortment of things that you might already have in the home. For starters, if you have excess magazines, roll them up and place them between the handles. This is perfect for younger babies, but toddlers may figure out your little trick. To be safe, you should only use this method on cabinets that aren’t hazardous. Zip ties that can be adjusted are another option that will help keep things secure without costing you a fortune. You can also place hairbands on the doors so they will move back into place when your child goes to open them. Of course, one of the best things you can do is move hazardous items up to a higher shelf, so children of all ages can’t reach them. You may want to consider leaving some of your cabinets open too, as many children love to sit in them or play with items like pots and pans.

2. Hard Edges
Hard or sharp edges in the household can be a parent’s worst nightmare. However, they seem to exist everywhere we look, from the coffee table to the counters in the kitchen. There are many devices you can purchase to help avoid painful encounters with these edges. However, you don’t really have to look further than the sports section in your favorite store. If your store is still selling pool noodles then grab a few them. These can be cut and placed on counters as well as long surfaces that might pose a risk to your child. You can also add them to sharp edges with ease. Tennis balls are another perfect option for these corners. Simply cut a slit in them and place it on the edge. With all of your harmful edges covered, you will feel a lot better about your little one’s pulling up tendencies and their attempts to walk.

3. Fireplace
If you have a fireplace then you might be unsure as to what to do with it. There’s many covers you can buy, but these can cost a small fortune and might not stop your child from gaining access to the fireplace. One way to remedy your problem for cheap is to toss a beanbag chair in the fireplace. This will shape to the fireplace and leave it impossible for your child to get in, especially if they can’t lift a beanbag chair. Of course, make sure to turn off the electric or gas to your fireplace if there is any. This will also prevent potential fires. Another option is to take a piece of plywood and fit it to the fireplace. You can paint the wood with all sorts of designs, or use chalkboard paint so your children can write on it.

4. Electric Sockets
Children love sticking things in small holes, so electrical sockets can be another big nightmare for parents. You can buy plastic covers for these socks for fairly expensive, but sometimes children or pets can figure out how to remove them. This leaves you with open sockets that are just asking for trouble. One of the most efficient things to do is hide the socket when you can. Try moving large furniture in front of it to prevent your child from touching it. Of course, if you can’t part with the socket there are still options. You can use painter tape for instance, or a regular bandaid. Try to avoid colorful tapes and bandages though as it might draw your child’s attention.

5. Doors
There is nothing more frightening then dealing with the concept of your child getting outside when you are in the bathroom. You might also have rooms that you don’t want your child in due to dangerous items. So, door covers are one of the best things you can do. One easy way to take care of this problem is to put a sock on the door knob. This will help prevent your child from turning the handle. Another option is to cut a hole in the lid of some circular food storage containers. Place the lid on the handle and then screw on the container tightly. Your child won’t be able to work off the lid, which will keep your door firmly shut. You might also consider installing a simple latch at the top of the door to ensure safety when you’re all inside the home. If your child tends to squish their fingers in doors then cut a pool noodle and place it on the top edge of the door. This will help prevent the door from closing all of the way.

6. Bookshelves
It can be incredibly frustrating to have all of your books set up and then have a child come and pull them down continuously. It can also be slightly dangerous for the child if they are pulling on your bookshelves. Before you do anything, you are going to want to make sure all of your book shelves are firmly screwed into the wall. This will prevent it from falling on your child, which could lead to death. Once this is done, you can concentrate on the more annoying aspects of children messing with bookshelves. First of all, you should move your favorite books to the top of your shelves to prevent children from tearing, dirtying or coloring in your beloved books. After you do this, fasten an innertube to the shelf. This will prevent children from throwing your books in the floor as the innertube will keep them in their place. It might even discourage your children from playing near your shelves when they realize they can’t touch the books. This will bring even more safety to your home.

7. Baby Gate
There are some rooms that you just don’t want your child in, especially while you’re busy cleaning or working. In this case, it is always best to try to shut the door. However, if you can’t do this then you will need a baby gate for safety. The only downside is these can be very pricey when you buy them from a store. Your best option is to make your own. One of the cheapest ways to do this is to use fabric to create a barrier. You can hang it up with 3ms or other devices, so you can easily gain access to your rooms. You can also DIY one out of wood or an old gate. This takes a little more work, but won’t cost you too much, especially if you already have the wood lying around your home or workshop.

8. Refrigerator
The last thing you need is to clean up spilled food and beverages because your child decided to get into the refrigerator. Worse yet, you don’t want to expose your child to salmonella and other bacteria if they manage to get into raw meats. The best thing to do is block access to the kitchen, but if you can’t or you just want a little back up protect then you can DIY your own lock. This can easily be done with a rubberband and 3ms. Simple place a 3m on the door of the appliance and the appliance itself and then connect them with the rubberband. You might want to do this higher up to prevent your child from tampering with it. This might also detour anyone who is snacking late at night too!

9. Fix Cords
Cords in the home can be one of the most dangerous things. There are many different cords to worry about too. For starters, the cords on your blinds could end up strangling or hanging your child if you’re not careful. Make sure to tie these up and hang them very high so that children can not touch them. This can be accomplished with a simple hook hung close to the top of your blinds. Another cord to look out for is your electronic cords, especially if your child has teeth. Ball these up and put them in a toilet roll to help prevent your child from getting ahold of them.

10. Paint Socks
Your floor can be one of the most dangerous areas for your child. Young children, especially those learning to walk, can easily fall and hit their head. This can hinder their learning to walk and cause other problems. In order to add traction to your child’s steps, you may want to pick up some acrylic paint and place it on the bottom of their socks. This will help them keep their grip, which will encourage them to walk with ease. This is also great for toddlers that tend to run and slide. Another option is to grab a few rugs. Make sure you secure these rugs though as children can easily slide on them too.

Making sure your child is safe in their own home is critical. It doesn’t have to be a financial burden though. These handy tricks should allow you to keep your home babyproofed without forcing to settle on store bought items. You may even have a little fun in the process.