Rental apartments can accommodate all sorts of people – singles, seniors, platonic roommates, couples and young families. Many couples start a family while living in a rental apartment, which means having to babyproof the unit!
Unlike a home or condo that you own, you cannot make permanent changes and alterations to your rental apartment. This means all babyproofing measures must be temporary and done so that they don’t damage the walls or floors.
Bumpers, locks and more
Once your baby is crawling, you will want to protect them from sharp corners and edges on furniture. You can apply a foam edge protector and corner cushions to keep them safe when they’re exploring the apartment.
You can install locks on cupboards, drawers and even the toilet seat that only adults can unclip. You can also put anti-slip mats underneath rugs to keep them in place. Don’t forget the outlet plug covers!
Nursery
If you’re fortunate enough to find a 2 bedroom apartment for rent, you can have a designated nursery space, which is nice for when the baby is old enough to sleep in a crib in their own room. Apartment bedrooms tend to be smaller than those in a home, so you have to be very careful about how much furniture you pack into the space.
Once babies are old enough to hoist themselves up on the side of the crib, you need to ensure there is nothing they can reach. Keep dressers, changing tables and chairs away from the crib. Try not to put the crib against a window ledge, but if you have to, ensure the windows are locked and that the drapes or blinds don’t have any looped cords (cut them if they do).
Most apartments don’t have central air, so you should make sure there is a fan or window air conditioner in the baby’s room during the hot summer months. Make sure the room is well-ventilated. You don’t want the baby to get too cold, either, so always check the temperature of the room and feel the baby’s neck and chest to make sure they’re not too hot or cold.
Baby gates
While most rental apartments are single-storey, you might still want to use baby gates to keep crawling babies out of dangerous spaces, such as the kitchen when you are cooking. Make sure you lock the balcony door, too, so they don’t slide it open.
Find the perfect family-friendly two-bedroom rental apartment using Gottarent.com . You can find buildings close to parks, shopping and transit to make life easier.
